UNITED WAY OF SOUTHERN KENTUCKY’S INCLUSION AND ANTI-RACISM STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of United Way of Southern Kentucky’s mission. It is the foundation of all that we do, including working for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Southern Kentucky.
We unequivocally denounce racism/ethnic discrimination because it undermines the well-being and vitality of our communities.
Our United Way network strives to engage community members, especially those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized.
We 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.
We embrace the diverse identity and experience of every person and celebrate our common humanity and the inherent worth of all people.
We recognize that we do not all start from the same place because inherent advantages and barriers exist. We strive to bridge this gap where there is no longer a ceiling on potential.
We promise to do the crucial work, both internally and externally, to proactively assess our processes and develop our ability to advocate for all people and foster more inclusive communities.
We devote ourselves to building communities where every person has the equal resources and opportunities to develop, contribute and feel valued regardless of their identity or status.
We fight against injustice, intolerance and inequity and understand that these divisions prevent our communities from being United.
We believe that our diversity makes us stronger and that each United Way of Southern Kentucky community member, donor, volunteer, advocate, and employee plays a valuable role in solving community problems. We strive to foster an environment where each person feels valued, supported, and appreciated
We welcome every person to join us in embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for every person in every community.
By choosing to LIVE UNITED, we can help Southern Kentucky become what we know it can be.
(Note: much of the language above is adopted from the United Way’s Equity Vision in United Way’s Equity Framework: Strengthening Our Equity Muscle to Accelerate Impact, developed in collaboration with local United Ways.)
