Diversity Is Not a Photo Op.
Equity Is Not a Handout.
Inclusion Is Not a Trend.
When Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work in concert, Belonging is born.
Diversity brings us together. Equity levels the field. Inclusion keeps the door wide open. At the Urban League of Greater Philadelphia, this isn’t new.
It’s our blueprint—for justice, for community, for empowerment.
DIVERSITY is not a headcount.
It’s a heartbeat.
Diversity means more than checking boxes or assembling people who look different in one room. It’s about celebrating the fullness of who people are—their stories, languages, perspectives, histories, identities, and lived experiences.
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In Greater Philadelphia, diversity looks like a community where Black elders share wisdom at barbershop roundtables, where Muslim and Jewish neighbors show up for one another’s holidays, and where LGBTQ+ youth see themselves represented in leadership.
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Diversity is not performative.
It is not about optics. It’s about presence with purpose. It is not just racial—it’s about ability, class, gender, sexuality, age, immigration status, faith, and how all those layers intersect.
EQUITY is not equality.
It’s justice in motion.
Equity recognizes that we don’t all start from the same place—and that some of us have been locked out, passed over, or pushed down for generations. Equity ensures resources and access are distributed in ways that correct systemic imbalance and remove barriers.
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Think of it like this: If equality is giving everyone a pair of shoes, equity is making sure the shoes fit.
Equity is not favoritism or handouts.
It’s a response to systems that have favored some and failed others. It's about closing wage gaps, educational disparities, health outcomes, and housing opportunities.
INCLUSION is not being invited to the table.
It’s being asked to speak—and being heard when you do.
Inclusion is the everyday practice of making people feel seen, valued, and respected—not just tolerated. It’s making sure LGBTQ+ employees can thrive without hiding who they are. It’s ensuring immigrant families can navigate resources in their own language. It’s building spaces that welcome all bodies, all abilities, all backgrounds.
Inclusion is not assimilation.
It’s not asking people to blend in, tone down, or conform. Inclusion honors authenticity—and creates systems where difference isn’t just accepted, it’s expected.
BELONGING is not assumed.
It’s created—intentionally, collectively, and consistently.
Belonging is when people can exhale. It’s the moment someone walks into a space and knows they don’t have to shrink. That they are not “the only.” That their story matters.
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In our work, Belonging means a returning citizen finds a job where they’re respected. It means a trans woman feels safe in a job interview. It means a child in Germantown or Camden doesn’t question whether they deserve to dream.
Belonging is not optional.
It is essential for mental health, innovation, community safety, and institutional trust. And it can’t exist without equity, inclusion, and diversity at its core.
What This Work Is Not
There’s a lot of misinformation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Here’s what it is not:
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It is not anti-white or anti-men. It is anti-oppression.
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It is not about lowering standards. It is about removing unfair barriers to entry and success.
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It is not a political trend. It is a civil and human rights imperative.
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It is not about hiring “less qualified” candidates. It is about recognizing the full range of talent that’s often overlooked because of bias—not ability.
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It is not about guilt. It is about accountability, repair, and building something better—together.
This work does not blame. It builds. It doesn’t divide. It deepens connection. And it isn’t new. The Urban League has been doing this for over 100 years—before it had a name.
