How Do You Say 'Aquifer' in Spanish? How Incremental Changes Result in Meaningful Advancement of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB)

In pursuit of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) within its community, the City of Boise has undertaken a comprehensive initiative. This initiative reflects the city's commitment to becoming a place that truly embraces the principles of equity and accessibility in its policies and actions, consistent with its vision of 'creating a city for everyone.' Recognizing past inadvertent disparities created or reinforced by public works policies and projects, Boise is taking innovative steps to infuse DEIB principles into its project planning and execution processes. One of the prominent endeavors within this broader initiative is the development of the Recycled Water Program (RWP) within Boise's Public Works Department. This program represents a strategic shift in water management practices, aiming to enhance resilience and environmental outcomes while safeguarding economic development and public resources. It seeks to address impending water shortages by recycling water within Boise's service area, utilizing groundwater recharge and industrial reuse to diversify water supply sources and relieve pressure on groundwater. Crucially, the Recycled Water Program is not merely a technological advancement but also a DEIB-driven initiative. Boise is actively integrating DEIB principles into the program, crafting equitable guidelines that serve as a framework to identify and pursue equity goals, objectives, processes, and measurable outcomes. Within the framework of the RWP and the broader Public Works Department, Boise is pioneering a process to infuse equity considerations into project and program development, thereby advancing a vision of a more sustainable, just, and resilient community. This approach has the potential to amplify the effectiveness and impact of city projects and programs, fostering inclusivity for all residents. The Equitable Guidelines, a key component of this initiative, offer a set of principles and practices deeply rooted in the city's DEI commitments. These guidelines are designed to instill consistency, transparency, and accountability in pursuit of equitable outcomes throughout the lifecycle of planning, development, definition, and delivery of projects and programs. Each guideline features specific goals, objectives, and quantifiable key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress over time. These guidelines encompass: - Alignment with the city's DEI commitments - Sustaining equitable and inclusive community engagement - Integration of community benefits into project work - Establishment of equitable processes and policies - Connection and alignment with local and national equity initiatives In the forthcoming presentation, we will delve into the city's goals, objectives, and KPIs, illustrating how they intertwine with the Recycled Water Program and the city's broader DEIB commitments. We will provide examples of language modifications, access enhancements, and project-specific decision-making frameworks that embody the equitable guidelines and DEIB objectives. So back to the original question - how do you say aquifer in Spanish? It turns out you don't. This seemingly innocuous term had the potential to alienate important members of the Boise community. But with one small change, switching from aquifer recharge to groundwater recharge, we provided a more inclusive program that connects to our community.