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Celebrate Diversity Month: What Does Diversity Mean in One Health?

  • 1.  Celebrate Diversity Month: What Does Diversity Mean in One Health?

    Posted 14 hours ago

    Diversity Month is an annual observance in April dedicated to recognizing, appreciating, and celebrating the differences and commonalities among people, fostering inclusion and understanding. 

    Celebrate Diversity Month was established in 2004 by ProGroup Inc. and Diversity Best Practices to extend diversity awareness beyond the workplace and into broader American culture. Since then, it has been adopted by schools, universities, government agencies, and private companies across the US. It has also gained international traction, for instance in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia (source). 

    What Does Diversity Mean in One Health? 

    • Through the lens of One Health, diversity can be social, biological, environmental, and cultural. 

    • When we think about species and ecosystems' biodiversity, loss of diversity weakens ecological resilience. The same can be said for social and cultural diversity; when we include different perspectives, our organizations and communities are stronger. 

    • One Health often brings together multiple sectors, but not all voices are equally represented.  

    • Diversity in family structures includes acknowledging multi-species families and recognizing pets as part of our family when providing services and care. 

    • Diversity includes acknowledging cultural differences in how people relate to animals, and structural inequities in accessing veterinary care, housing, and other essential resources. 
       

    Questions for Discussion and Reflection: 

    • Who is not at your table when decisions are made and what you may be missing because of that? 

    • How will you/your organization or community be celebrating Diversity Month this year? 

     
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    Claire Schuch, PhD
    Associate Director for Research
    Center for Pet Family Well-Being (formerly Program for Pet Health Equity)
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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