Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI

United Way is rooted in building strong and inclusive communities. We strive to create opportunities for everyone to reach their full potential. However, many of the issues United Way works to address have a disproportionate impact on black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, people with disabilities and other marginalized communities. We acknowledge that due to systemic factors, some members of our community experience barriers to accessing programs/services and funding to support those programs.

To build community and be a leader of social good we must ensure that all voices are at the table to influence how we work. Organizations and systems are stronger with a diversity of thought and the perspective of new and different voices. We have learned that fostering diversity encourages innovation and builds stronger partnerships.

Our Work In 2021

Our EDI work is guided by the goals of shifting our ways of being, ways of knowing, and ways of doing.

Ways of Being

Ways of being is focused on building inclusive leadership and supporting and enabling an inclusive environment. In 2021 we:

Participated in United Way Centraide Canada ’ s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion & Indigenous Collaboration

Framework development process

Identified the need for more diverse voices at the table and purposefully recruited new Board Directors that are more representative of our community

Set an expectation that all Directors, staff and volunteers will champion an anti-racism/anti-oppression, diversity, equity and inclusion lens to their work

Observed National Day for Truth & Reconciliation Day by closing the office and participating in a day of learning

Ways of Knowing

Ways of knowing is focused on continuous learning and unlearning, formal and informal training, education and community engagement. In 2021 we:

Launched our internal United Way Academy with a focus on EDI learning for staff and volunteers

Supported staff learning through opportunities to attend presentations and conferences

Included the voices of marginalized communities and those with lived experience at events and community engagement opportunities and provided honorariums to individuals who shared their stories with us

Ways of Doing

Ways of doing is focused on ensuring our systems, structures, and methods of work are rooted in equity, including our policies and practices. In 2021 we:

Identified the need for a funding stream focused on supporting marginalized communities, as part of our

Community Impact & Investment strategy update. We enlisted the support of local EDI consultant Iona Sky to assist us in developing the stream in early 2022 and look forward to sharing the process and results of this work soon.

Began the process of reviewing and updating human resource policies, which included ensuring a more inclusive workplace

Removed the Supplemental Fundraising Policy and shifted to a community-centric fundraising approach