Includeembrace

Includeembrace is a coined term used to describe a practical approach that merges the goals of inclusion with the active embracing of diverse perspectives. In organizational, educational, and community contexts, includeembrace calls for both bringing people into conversations and fully engaging with the differences they bring, including dissent and uncertainty.

Etymology and usage: The term blends include and embrace and has appeared in discussions of inclusive leadership and participatory design since the early 2020s. It is not a standardized concept with a single definition, and its meaning may vary across disciplines and organizations.

Core principles: Proactive inclusion of voices historically underrepresented; psychological safety that supports listening to unfamiliar viewpoints; iterative processes that adapt to feedback; explicit acknowledgment of uncertainty and trade-offs; and accessible communication and decision-making that values belonging. The approach emphasizes ongoing engagement rather than one-off compliance.

Applications: Used in meeting practices to diversify speakers, in product development to consider accessibility and cultural relevance, and in policy design to foreground community input and ongoing evaluation rather than static norms. In education, it can guide curriculum development and student feedback mechanisms.

Criticism and limitations: As a term, includeembrace can be vague or aspirational. Some critics warn it may become performative or require substantial time and resources. Measuring impact is challenging, and power dynamics can shape whose voices are truly heard within a process.

See also: inclusion, belonging, participatory design, inclusive design, diversity and inclusion.