DEI Statement
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We are committed to developing an environment in which the students and communities we work alongside are seen, heard, welcomed and supported in their growth with and beyond their involvement with Passion Impact. We strive to foster a culture of openness, continuous learning, humility and social responsibility. Passion Impact is open to and welcoming of both change and failure in the pursuit of social equity. This statement is grounded in the words of adrienne maree brown’s book ‘Emergent Strategy’, “Change is constant (be like water)” and “Never a failure, always a lesson”.
Our purpose behind this DEI statement is to wear our beliefs on our sleeve, to let the students and communities we serve know where we stand in the face of racism, anti-blackness, prejudice and all forms of oppression. This statement represents our first step in identifying and naming the cultural norms and standards upon which our organization has previously been grounded but which have not been conducive of creating a truly inclusive environment.
We acknowledge our responsibility and commit to our continued learning about the systems that create inequality in our world. We pledge to disrupt these systems of oppression, injustice, privilege, and racism both in our work and in our daily lives. We are actively naming and acknowledging the roots and history of white supremacy culture and the white savior complex deeply ingrained in the concept of volunteerism. As an organization, Passion Impact continues to evolve beyond the outdated notion of volunteerism toward the concept of civic engagement & innovation. By moving toward these pillars of action, we place greater emphasis on the aspects of community work, inclusion, access, belonging, civic action & civic commitment.
Our organization is actively choosing to address these tough issues head on and challenge our own assumed right to comfort. Recognizing that the work we do cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach & that our words need to be met with action, our DEI Committee will be finalizing actionable steps for our organization to take in order for us to help create a more equitable community.
Passion Impact’s DEI Committee, students, partners & Board of Directors will review and reflect on this statement on a bi-annual basis in order to make any needed adaptations.
Created July 2020
Version 1.0 Passed by the Board of Directors August 19, 2020
Updated 1.1 Revised July 2021
Updated 1.2 Revised October 2022