The Diversity wheel is a tool created by the Diversity Leadership Council at Johns Hopkins that I've added to my regular rotation of resources to help increase communication and expand understanding.

Aside from being incredibly coloured and fun to look at, it is a great place to begin a conversation with a new group of people. 

The inner circle refers to embedded aspects which we have no control over as we are born with these diversities. The outer wheel reflects human experience that we have some control over and which may or may not change over time.

I like using it to ask people the place themselves on the wheel, sharing what they feel comfortable to share, so I can appreciate aspects of them that I should not assume. 

I’m happy to encourage you to view it, use it and think about where you place yourself on it. For instance, when I look at it, I am reminded that I am a Canadian born woman of Scottish heritage who is a university professor even though I did not complete a 4-year university degree myself. Perhaps that's a little unexpected? That's the point.

We are ALL diverse, by choice and by nature,