John Howard Society NL Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Statement
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Creating an effective, just and humane responses to confronting crime requires a diverse equitable and inclusive organization. We are committed to building an organization to provides a respectful and equitable environment .
Diversity
Diversity means valuing the presence of differences within our organization, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual; orientation, age, socio-economic situations, religion, abilities, and lived experience.
Equity
Equity is ensuring fair, respectful, and just treatment for every individual. We recognize that systemic barriers exist and are committed to redistributing resources and adopting policies and practices to created fair opportunities for all.
Inclusion
Inclusion is about building a community where every individual feels respected, valued, and included. It requires ongoing, active efforts to address imbalances in power and privilege, and promoting a culture where everyone has an equal voice.
Goals
Our aim is to break barriers and create a welcoming environment that promotes access, opportunity, and a sense of safety and belonging.
To achieve these goals, we commit to:
- Providing ongoing education on equity, diversity and inclusion for Board and staff, ensuring alignment with best practices and continuous improvement.
- Working to reflect diversity within our Board and staff to better serve our communities.
- Regularly consulting and incorporating feedback from our Board, staff, participants and community to guide our DEI efforts.
- Bringing attention to and addressing systemic discrimination, particularly in social and criminal justice systems and sharing best practices for reform.
- Seeking funding opportunities and partnerships to support DEI initiatives and furthering advocacy efforts.
- Reviewing our DEI statement and organizational practices annually to ensure they reflect our evolving commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.