IDEAS 

PRACTICES 

Can we really let loose and have a blast if some people don't feel safe to be their true selves? Can we really get into the game if we're worried about being judged, excluded, or discriminated against?

Justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-oppression are about making sure that everyone has a fair shot at having fun, expressing themselves, and contributing their unique talents and perspectives. It's about breaking down barriers and biases that can hold us back and limit our potential.

When it comes to justice, it's important to acknowledge and address the past and present injustices that have created unequal power dynamics in our society. This means we need to work to create a just society where everyone has an equal chance to participate in and enjoy playful activities, regardless of their background, race, gender, sexuality, or abilities. We can't have true playfulness and vitality if some people are left out or held back because of systemic inequalities.

Equity recognizes that not everyone starts from the same place, and some people may need more support to reach their full potential. Equity means giving people what they need to thrive. In the context of a game, this might look like adapting activities so that everyone regardless of their physical abilities has a point of entry to the fun. 

Diversity and inclusion are about embracing and celebrating our differences, rather than trying to erase or homogenize them. It means recognizing that we all have something unique to bring to the table and that we're all stronger when we come together.

Anti-oppression is about acknowledging and challenging the systems and structures that create and perpetuate injustice, inequity, and exclusion. It means recognizing that we all have a role to play in creating a more just and inclusive world, and that we can't just sit back and wait for someone else to do it.

So, what does this all mean for our playful vitality? It means that we need to create spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued, and respected. It means checking our own biases and assumptions, and being willing to learn and grow. It means being open to different perspectives and experiences, and being willing to challenge ourselves and others when we see injustice or exclusion.

So let's get out there and play with purpose! Let's create a world where everyone feels free to be themselves, express their creativity, and have a blast.

CASE STUDY 

The 'Golf Club' at the local Insurance company is a group of employees that get together and enjoy playing golf after work. The group has just received a notice from HR saying that some members of the company are feeling consistently excluded from these outings. While lack of experience is at play, they mostly just don't feel welcome. 

Recognizing the need for change, the group decides to take a closer look at their practices and values. They begin to see the ways in which they had unintentionally created multiple barriers to participation, including only having white members, keeping a skill barrier, not helping with the expensive equipement and doing no active recruitment. They commit to finding ways to make the group more welcoming and accessible to all.

They work to educate themselves and each other about the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice and realize that, intentionally or not, they had created a group that was exclusionary on many levels. 

After some important and delicate conversations with people across the company, they decide to add a mentorship and support to less experienced players for a half hour before every outing, and also worked with HR to integrate an invitation to the outings as a part of onboarding. They also reach out individually to every employee in the company to personally invite them to one of the outings, and buy extra equipment for anyone who would like to join. 

As a result of these efforts, the group experienced a positive transformation. Members who had previously felt excluded or unsupported now felt more valued and included, and the overall morale and sense of community within the group actually improved significantly. 

• Notice who isn't being invited into a game or even into the room. Think about how the invitation might be extended to these people and extend it. If need be, meet with them in a one-on-one conversation and ask them what they might need to participate. 
• In a situation where people are being wild and crazy, take special notice of the people who come from historically marginalized communities. Are they looking relaxed or safe? If not, shift the activity so that that safety is there for everyone. 
• Re-imagine what a 'default' person looks like. When you are drawing someone, or thinking of someone, make a conscious effort to bring in a diverse set of bodies, ages, abilities. 

RESOURCES 

​BOOKS

• Diverse Teams at Work: Capitalizing on the Power of Diversity by Lee Gardenswartz, Anita Rowe and Patricia MacMillan
• Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald
• Race and Equity in Education: Achieving the Dream of Equal Opportunity by Marybeth Gasman and Derek W. Black
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
• The Diversity Bonus: How Great Teams Pay Off in the Knowledge Economy by Scott E. Page
• What Does It Mean to Be White?: Developing White Racial Literacy by Robin DiAngelo
• Unconscious Bias at Work: How to Avoid the Pitfalls by Dr. Petra von Staden and Dr. Kevin C. Blankenship
• Equity Mindset: An Antidote to Inequity in the Classroom by Tracey Benson and Kristina Doubet
• The Guide to Understanding and Implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace by Skot Carruth
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates 
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi