United Way fights for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.
United Way's Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
United Way of the Greater Capital Region (UWGCR) is committed to embracing and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence. As an organization and community partner, UWGCR seeks to work collaboratively with members of ethnically/racially minoritized, international, LGBTQIA+, and disability communities as well as diverse gender identities, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, and political beliefs, to create equitable and inclusive spaces and opportunities through intentional and impactful practices. We achieve this goal by addressing and combating systemic, institutional, and historical barriers. Collectively, we acknowledge that diversity, equity, and inclusion can only be achieved when we recognize, create space, and listen attentively to individuals from historically excluded groups as equal partners. Additionally, we strive to develop and implement policies and systems grounded in antiracism. To this end, we commit to intentionally creating pathways for individuals of historically minoritized groups to be included in leadership, planning, and decision-making roles, including business opportunities with UWGCR and partnering institutions. We maintain that building, strengthening, and sustaining diversity, equity, and inclusion in our community and society requires an ongoing commitment that is fully expressed and supported in organizational culture, values, norms, policies, practices, and behaviors.
United Way's Equity Definition
“Equity is an approach that ensures everyone has access to the same opportunities. Equity recognizes that advantages and barriers exist, and that, as a result, we do not all start from the same place. Equity is a process that begins by acknowledging unequal starting places and continues to correct and address the imbalance which leads to justice.”
Meg Bolger, What’s the Difference Between Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity? (generalassemb.ly)
United Way Worldwide's Statement of Principle
We take the broadest possible view of diversity.
We value the visible and invisible qualities that make you who you are.
We welcome that every person brings a unique perspective and experience to advance our mission and progress our fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community.
We believe that each United Way community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee must have equal access to solving community problems.
We strive to include diversity, equity, and inclusion practices at the center of our daily work.
We commit to using these practices for our business and our communities.
Join us in embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for every person in every community.
United Way Worldwide's Vision for Equity
We recognize structural racism and other forms of oppression have contributed to persistent disparities which United Way seeks to dismantle. Our United Way network strives to engage community members, especially those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized. We identify leaders in communities and work with residents and public and private partners to co-create solutions that ensure everyone has the resources, supports, opportunities, and networks they need to thrive. We commit to leveraging all of our assets (convening, strategic investments, awareness building, advocacy) to create more equitable communities.