This past month has been as exciting a time as I can remember for the equity movement in America. At event after event, I have seen more energy, more fire, more enthusiasm from those working to make this a nation that helps all people participate and prosper.

In the words of my friend Manuel Pastor, This Could be the Start of Something Big.

Three particular events jump out at me:

The Boys and Men of Color conference in Oakland
The Harlem Children’s Zone “Changing the Odds” Conference in New York City
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity conference in Atlanta

To an outsider, these events might seem completely unrelated — one on social justice, one on cyclical poverty, one on childhood obesity. But for those of us in the equity movement, these were watershed events because of the passion, knowledge, and tenets that ran through each of them. The more than 2,000 people who attended these events represent, in many ways, the burgeoning power of our movement.

The speakers and attendees were all there to get their hands dirty doing the hard work of expanding opportunity to all people. They knew this movement takes smarts and drive and determination — and they all brought that to the table from the start. The level of sophistication and know-how on display at each of these events showed me how far our movement has come.

But what was most inspiring was how these ideas that drew thousands of people together are rooted in the innovation of local community leaders. The equity movement has sprouted from the nourishing soil of the communities that are facing these challenges every day.

Together, we have stepped headlong into the breach, replicating and implementing the innovative ideas our cohorts have honed in their own work. The energy is each of these rooms was palpable. You could almost touch it. I have no doubt, something big is starting. I can feel it.

There can be no doubt a movement for equity is blooming in America. Millions of community residents and leaders, advocates, activists, researchers, and elected officials are working hard to ensure we all live in fair, inclusive, and opportunity-rich communities.

We see evidence of the movement everywhere. From the community leaders pushing for affordable housing to the parents advocating for cleaner air to the policymakers bringing positive changes to scale, we are witnessing progress in corners big and small.

But what, exactly, is the “equity” we are all working toward? What does a society built on equitable principles look like? What is the meaning behind this movement-shaping banner?

PolicyLink staff and our allies think it is vital to put the concept of equity into words. To see this movement truly succeed at all levels, we must have a common understanding of what equity means and how we can reach it.

Today, we offer our definition of equity:

“Equity means just and fair inclusion. An equitable society is one in which all can participate and prosper. The goals of equity must be to create conditions that allow all to reach their full potential. In short, equity creates a path from hope to change.”

By defining equity, we aim to demonstrate to the millions of equity advocates out there just how intertwined all our efforts are. The equity movement, united beneath a common banner, is and will be a powerful force for positive change.

We at PolicyLink are committed to nurturing and buttressing this movement over the long-term — working in partnerships seeking change, speaking out on the issues, and keeping us all connected on ways to get engaged with the efforts of PolicyLink and the broader field. Expect to see more about our efforts to help build the equity movement in the coming months.

In the meantime, please let us know in the comments what you think about the equity movement — and what equity means to you.