Acculturation Two way street of change, gains, and adaptations incorporating new cultural elements with a preexisting one.

Affirmative Action Federal law aimed at correcting the effects of discrimination in the employment or education of members of certain groups.

Ally An individual or group that shares a commonality of purpose with the struggles of another group.

Assimilation Surrendering aspects of one's culture identity in an attempt to enjoy the privileges of the dominant group.

Assumptions Unconscious rationales for applying beliefs and behaviors, accepting supposed truths.

Beliefs Value statements as to what we hold true or false, relevant or irrelevant, good or bad

Bias Preference that keeps you from making an impartial judgment.

Collusion Cooperation with others, knowingly or unknowingly, to reinforce stereotypical attitudes, prevailing behaviors, and norms. Types of collusion include silence, denial, active participation.

Cultural competence A set of congruent behaviors, languages, belief systems, attitudes, and policies that reflect the capacity and capability of an individual, agency, or service system to respond appropriately and effectively to the cultural history, norms, values, and needs of targeted populations and communities in the conduct of prevention activities.

Culture Frame of reference consisting of learned patterns of behavior, history, values, assumptions, political-economic interests, experience, sexual orientation, arts, lifestyles etc. Shared by varying degrees of interest, importance, and awareness within members of a group. A framework for people's interpretation and response to the world. Culture is constantly evolving.

Discrimination The systematic, intended or unintended, denial or recognition, power, privilege, and opportunity to certain people based on the dynamics' or philosophies' of the groups to which they belong.

Diversity Any collective mixture characterized by differences and similarities. Differences may be in respect to age, class, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, or other human differences.

Diversity Management Creating and maintaining an environment that naturally enables all members to contribute to their full potential in pursuit of organizational objectives.

Dominant A term referring to a group of people who influence and control many aspects of a cultural system or a political system. In the US, white people, men, heterosexuals, and temporarily-abled individuals are dominant groups. The term is not synonymous with "majority".

Ethnicc Adjective describing a group of people sharing common cultural elements usually including geographic origin and ancestral origin.

Ethnocentrism A tendency to view other groups or cultures using one's own culture as a model; the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own groups and culture.

Hispanic A term coined in the 1970's by US Government demographers. Refers to growing multiracial, culturally mixed group of US inhabitants with origins in any one of the many Latin-American nations. The term Latino/a is often preferred.

Managing Workforce Diversity A process of addressing diversity mixtures in a manner that maximizes their contribution to desired objectives.

Multicultural Organizations Organizations that value human difference as a competitive advantage, have a pluralistic culture that reflects the interests, contributions, and values of members of diverse groups and the community; has full and influential participation by all members of the organization in decisions and policies that shape the organization; and eliminate discrimination throughout the organization.

Multiculturalism The practice of acknowledging and respecting the various cultures, religions, races, ethnic groups, attitudes, and opinions within an environment

Native American A term including over 300 separate and distinct tribes and nations with unique languages, customs, beliefs, and histories.

Pluralism A culture that incorporates mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork, and productivity among diverse people. It allows for and maintains a common culture while preserving the rights of individuals and groups to maintain their cultural heritage. It is a kinetic versus a static "ism".

Prejudice An unfavorable attitude toward a group usually formulated independent of experience. Preconceived idea or opinion. Tendency to see differences as weaknesses.

Privilege Power and advantages benefiting a group derived from the historical oppression and exploitation of other groups.

Race A concept born in the 1600's based on origin and physical characteristics or groups of people.

Racism Racial prejudice combined with institutional power used to the advantage of one race and to the detriment of others.

Stereotype A fixed and oversimplified generalization. A false idea that all people in a "group" are the same.

Truth Truth is illusive and complex. Truth is made up of diverse perspectives. Truth is an eternal conversation about things that matter.