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Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

STATEMENT ON EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

UNITED WAY OF GREEN COUNTY, INC.

**Approved December 9, 2021**

As a human services organization continuously seeking to deliver community impact and maintain quality service to our donors and clients, the United Way of Green County, Inc. places high value on the concepts of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Equity is a foundational element of our work, from our engagement with donors to our investment of community resources to our interactions with the public. We define equity as the presence of justice and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by organizations and the greater community. United Way of Green County commits to equity as a core value and practice to advance our mission of connecting people, resources, and organizations to create a thriving community for everyone.

United Way of Green County values the uniqueness of the individual, the power of the collective good and the importance of communities. We promote a climate that welcomes, understands, and respects the diversity of our clients, donors, staff, volunteers, agencies, and community partners. Dimensions of diversity include but are not limited to race, ethnicity, cultural orientation, national origin, language, religious belief, disability, gender, and age.

Our mission compels us to prioritize historically marginalized and systematically excluded people to end the historical, social, and systemic inequities that persist in our county. We acknowledge that we can only be successful if we recognize, raise up and support leaders from underrepresented groups. United Way of Green County is committed to engaging these leaders as partners, donors, and volunteers. Further, we commit to intentionally creating pathways for them to be included in decision-making and leadership roles within our own and other organizations.

We can only create a truly inclusive and equitable environment when all individuals reach their fullest human potential. We maintain that building and sustaining equity requires an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion that is fully expressed in our organizational culture, values, norms, and behaviors and those of our partners.

The Board of Directors and Executive Director will provide leadership and collaborate with clients, donors, staff, volunteers, agencies and community partners to ensure an environment that delivers on these values.

 

 

UNITED WAY OF GREEN COUNTY, INC.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

 

PREAMBLE

 United Way of Green County believes that that every person has worth as an individual. We recognize that historic marginalization and systematic exclusion of people has led to social and systemic inequities. We acknowledge that we can only be successful if we recognize, raise up and support leaders from underrepresented neighborhoods.

We also recognize that ignorance, insensitivity, and bigotry can turn diversity into a source of prejudice, discrimination, and injustice.

To make Green County a better place for all, we pledge to respect the civil and human rights of all people regardless of race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, age, abilities, beliefs, economic circumstances, or other characteristics different from our own. We maintain that building and sustaining equity for all requires an ongoing and purposeful commitment to diversity and inclusion that is fully expressed in our organizational culture, values, norms and behaviors.

In furtherance of our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, we shall operate according to the following code of conduct:

 

VALUES

  • We value, respect, and embrace diversity in all aspects of our activities.
  • We are committed to inclusiveness as a core operating principle for our organization.
  • We will not engage in or tolerate any form or act of discrimination or harassment and we will be vigilant against any such conduct.
  • We recognize structural racism, ethnic discrimination and other forms of oppression have contributed to racial disparities that have existed in the past and persist in the present.
  • We will be open and accessible to all.
  • We will treat each other and those we serve with respect.
  • We will demonstrate fair and equal treatment for all.

 

GOVERNANCE 

  • We are committed to a system of management and governance that is fair, inclusive, and proactive in undertaking its responsibilities to actively promote equality of opportunity.
  • We unequivocally denounce racism/ethnic discrimination because it undermines the well-being and vitality of our communities.
  • We are committed to working with public and private partners to create solutions that ensure everyone has the resources, support, opportunities necessary to create more equitable communities.

 

ADMINISTRATION 

  • We shall adopt and adhere to personnel policies and procedures that recognize the value and rights of a diverse staff.
  • We shall recruit and encourage the participation of volunteers from all segments of the community and commit to intentionally creating pathways for traditionally marginalized community member to be included in decision-making and leadership roles within our own and other organizations.
  • We shall adopt and adhere to a procedure that ensures complaints concerning equitable treatment are processed in a timely and responsive manner.

 

PROGRAM 

  • Our program benefits and services shall be made available in a fair and equitable manner that is open and accessible. This requires an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion that is fully expressed in our organizational culture, values, norms, and behaviors and those of our partners.

 

We shall periodically review our policy to ensure that our commitment to inclusiveness is being fulfilled.

UNITED WAY OF GREEN COUNTY, INC.

***Dated:  December 9, 2021***