CAH has placed increased focus on utilizing an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A.) lens in its grantmaking, with the goal of creating a more equitable arts and humanities landscape in the District. In addition to detailed plans for its compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.), each applicant must demonstrate how its programming and services will be inclusive, diverse, equitable, and accessible throughout the District of Columbia, beyond participants with disabilities. Applicants should consider a broad definition of “accessibility” by addressing financial, geographic, demographic, cultural and developmental access. For more information, see the CAH Grants Glossary, located in the Guide to Grants.
I.D.E.A. DEFINITIONS
Below are definitions used by CAH of each component of I.D.E.A. CAH encourages applicants to develop short- and long-term plans to ensure each of these components is realized in their processes and programs. CAH’s goal for the arts and humanities community is to have a comprehensive and actionable plan in place by FY 2024. Organizations in receipt of funding from CAH are currently required to demonstrate their progress in all interim and final reports.
INCLUSION
Inclusion authentically welcomes, and intentionally brings, traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policymaking in a way that shares power.
DIVERSITY
Diversity refers to the various backgrounds and races that comprise a community, nation, or other grouping. In many instances, the term diversity does not only acknowledge the existence of diversity of background, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation etc., but applies a recognition of the value of these differences. Diversity enriches policies and practices by bringing people of diverse backgrounds and experiences together to inform, shape, and enrich these policies and practices.
EQUITY
Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equity is different from treating everyone the same. Equity operates from the understanding that people and groups enter given situations from very different starting points. These starting points are often determined by certain social hierarchies such as race, class, gender, age, sexual identity etc. An equitable framework centers awareness of these hierarchies and creates systems that are actively anti-racist, anti-classist, anti-sexist, and anti-homophobic.
ACCESS
Access is defined in the broadest definition of the term as a means of ensuring individuals and/or groups are given financial, geographic, demographic, cultural, and developmental access to programming, services, and other opportunities.
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