DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT THE Y
OUR COMMITMENT
The Y's MISSION is reflected by the core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. These values inspire and compel us to ensure everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and be their authentic selves in all aspects of diversity including ability, age, cultural background, economic status, ethnicity, faith, gender, gender identity, ideology, language, national origin, political view, race or sexual orientation.
Together, we celebrate strong inclusive communities. FOR ALL.
OUR GOAL
To create an environment in which members, staff and other stakeholders experience an organization rich with multicultural inclusivity, the promotion of equity across all walks of life and a genuine sense of belonging FOR ALL, with intentional focus on underrepresented and historically marginalized communities.
WE BELIEVE
Access, inclusion and engagement helps to ensure the Y’s continued relevancy, viability and impact as a cause-driven organization focused on strengthening community.
Community Conversations
September: Advancing DEI Community Conversation Part 3
Date: September 12
Time: 5-7:30 p.m.
Location: The Faison Center | 511 Markel Road, Richmond, VA 23230
Join us for our third Community Conversation, where we will discuss DEI and Data--how to collect, analyze, and make decisions informed by the findings. Hot dinner will be served.
Previous conversations:
June: The Role and Responsibility of Board Volunteers & CEOs
The second community conversation was held In partnership with Leadership Metro Richmond (LMR). We discussed the critically important, yet often overshadowed, role and responsibility of board volunteers, CEOs and Executive Directors in effectively advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in organizations and the community.
March: DEI and the Employee Experience
The first Community Conversation was moderated by Jonathan Zur of VCIC to discuss the employee experience related to DEl and Belonging in our region. Following this conversation, Shanza Isom of BeWell: Self-Care & Holistic Life Balance led attendees through a Centering Moment.
Employee Resource Groups
At the Y, strengthening community is our cause and ensuring access, inclusion and engagement is fundamental for all. We are committed to recognizing and embracing all dimensions of diversity to better serve our neighbors. Employee Resources Groups, or ERGs, are all about community. ERGs help build community within the Y and connect the Y to the communities that we aim to serve. ERG work is strengthened by our foundational cornerstones:
Staff and Volunteer Leadership Development
ERGs work to ensure leaders are reflective of and trusted within the communities they serve and provide guidance to ensure diversity at all levels of leadership. ERGs support recruitment and retention efforts that are inclusive of all dimensions of diversity.
Community Engagement
ERGs support the organization's knowledge building and strategic engagement aimed at meeting diverse community needs, addressing demographic shifts, and strengthening communities. ERGs advise the Y's advancement of diversity and inclusion through policies, brand, governance and operational practices.
Building Bridges Between Communities
ERGs serve as a space for people to learn and better understand one another to create inclusive spaces and strengthen communities. The Y sees the ERGs as bridge builders between individuals, groups and communities.The YMCA of Greater Richmond currently supports 6 Employee Resource Groups:
- African-American Employee Resource Group
- Disability Community Employee Resource Group
- Emerging Leaders Employee Resource Group
- Hispanic/Latino Leaders Employee Resource Group
- LGBTQ Employee Resource Group
- Women's Leadership Network Employee Resource Group
Each ERG is led by a steering committee made up of full-time Y staff and supported by an Executive Sponsor from our Association Leadership Team. ERGs host programs, activities and discussions created to help all YMCA staff connect, learn and grow.