Committing to Inclusion and Diversity

Author: VI Marketing and Branding

Posted: Oct 10, 2023

VI cares about the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. While we work to influence behavior change and make a positive impact in our communities, we understand that it starts internally first. Our DEI committee’s mission is to cultivate a workplace that upholds diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront: influencing our ideas, impacting our strategies and shaping our values.

Some of our members of the DEI committee recently had the pleasure of attending the Schnake Turnbo Frank Inclusion & Diversity Consortium where they brought back key information on how to be better allies, how to create a sense of belonging in shared spaces and how to avoid burnout when doing the hard work of combating systemic issues.

Here are six top takeaways:

Diversity and Inclusion, or Inclusion and Diversity? We need to be inclusive to keep diversity. If we don't work on the inclusion aspect, it doesn't matter what we call it. – Leadership Accountability and Buy-In
Define where our identity, responsibility and control begin and end relative to another person. – Cheerleading From Quicksand: How to change everything without changing everything
Ask ourselves “WHY” am I doing this? – Inclusion & Diversity Summit – Allyship Panel
- Am I willing to show up when it’s not a march/protest?
- Do I follow up by pushing for policy change?
Having a disability is the one minority group that anyone can become a part of at anytime. Are we making sure spaces are accessible? – Switching lanes: Embracing Inclusion & Accessibility for all workers
Supportive and inclusive language is an opportunity to match our intention and our impact – DEI & Belonging in workplace policy
Embrace self-dignity and self-worth, the comfort one person resides in is “the light” – Being comfortable in uncomfortable spaces

While we understand that work in the DEI field is never-ending and ever-changing, we also commit to doing our part to be a part of that change and understanding the importance of holding space for healing and acceptance of all people. Check out a few of the resources below for ways to make change.