Assistance League® of Indianapolis
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Initiatives
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) Initiatives
National Assistance League® demonstrated their commitment to bringing diversity efforts to the forefront of our organization and the communities we serve by establishing a DEI Task Force in April of 2022. Assistance League® of Indianapolis followed suit and appointed a Task Force in August 2022. Consisting of leaders representing a variety of program areas within our chapter, the Task Force spent time learning about DEIB, engaging in open and honest conversations about our own biases and life experiences, and studying the diversity efforts of other local philanthropic organizations and community partners.
The Task Force was proud to have accomplished the following achievements:
FY 2023-24
FY 2022-23
Member Approved Statements
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Assistance League of Indianapolis welcomes all who share the commitment to volunteerism regardless of gender, sexual orientation, family situation, race, religion, ethnicity, economic status, physical ability, or other diverse circumstances.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING STATEMENT
Assistance League of Indianapolis strives to listen, learn, respect, and engage with our member volunteers, community partners, and program recipients to create a culture where all experience a sense of belonging and inclusion in a just and equitable environment.
STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Integrate DEIB Initiatives into all aspects of our organization:
The Task Force was proud to have accomplished the following achievements:
FY 2023-24
- June: DEIB page and DEIB Book List is published on the ALindy.org website
- June 14, 2023: Assistance League University (ALU) Book Club discussion of The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee.
- July 18, 2023: Received $500 donation from Community Health Network (for the Regional Networking Conference) after meeting their DEI requirements on the application.
- July 26, 2023: Task Force chair attends an online training session sponsored by the Disability Roundtable of Central Indiana, “Celebrating Inclusion: Disability Awareness and Etiquette”.
- August 9, 2023: ALU Book Club discussion of Horse by Geraldine Brooks.
- August 24, 2023 DEIB Task Force Planning Meeting for 2023-24
- October 3, 2023: “Approachable DEI” presentation by Barbara Condra (AL St. Louis) and Peggy Cotter (AL Minneapolis/St. Paul) at the Regional Networking Conference hosted by AL Indianapolis.
- October 26, 2023: ALU Book discussion of The Nickel Boys by Coleson Whitehead.
- November 15, 2023: Educational Moment on Disability Awareness & Etiquette featuring guest speaker, Laura Johnson, VP Care Management of Joy’s House and Laurel Burns, ALI member and Special Ed Teacher
- November 30, 2023: ALU/DEIB Book Club Event, Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus featuring guest speaker Dr. Sherry Queener giving her lecture “Fighting Fair” to 36 attendees, including several non-member guests.
- February 23, 2024: ALU Book Club discussion of Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan.
- February 2024: Policy Committee removes all female pronouns from the policies published in our handbook to gender neutral pronouns, approved by membership vote.
- May 2, 2024: ALU Book Club discussion of The Warmth of Other Sons by Elizabeth Wilkerson.
FY 2022-23
- September 2022 An Educational Moment on “Unconscious Bias” is presented to the membership.
- October 2022 The Task Force drafts a DEI statement pending further review and member input.
- October 2022 A subcommittee of the DEI Task Force is formed to create a DEI reading list.
- November 2022 ALI Advisory Council luncheon meeting included a DEI update.
- February 2023 ALI board and membership approve a new Non-Discrimination Statement and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Statement.
- April 2023 Assistance League University hosts an all-chapter book discussion of “Blind Spot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald.
- April 2023 An Educational Moment/table group exercise on “Identity Work” is presented to the membership.
- May 2023 DEIB is added as a goal for the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.
Member Approved Statements
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Assistance League of Indianapolis welcomes all who share the commitment to volunteerism regardless of gender, sexual orientation, family situation, race, religion, ethnicity, economic status, physical ability, or other diverse circumstances.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & BELONGING STATEMENT
Assistance League of Indianapolis strives to listen, learn, respect, and engage with our member volunteers, community partners, and program recipients to create a culture where all experience a sense of belonging and inclusion in a just and equitable environment.
STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Integrate DEIB Initiatives into all aspects of our organization:
- Cultivate partnership opportunities with diverse community groups.
- Seek ways to incorporate diversity initiatives into our membership, philanthropic programs, and other chapter activities.
- Become eligible for grant opportunities that focus on impact philanthropy vs. charity.