DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

Equity is the foundation of the United Way of Sandusky County’s work, from our engagement with donors to our investment of community resources to our interactions with the public. We define equity as the presence of justice and fairness within the procedures, processes and distribution of resources by institutions or systems. We commit to equity as a core value and practice to advance our mission of creating lasting change here in Sandusky County.

Our mission compels us to prioritize historically marginalized and systematically excluded people. We recognize structural racism, ethnic discrimination, and other forms of oppression have contributed to disparities that have existed in the past and persist in the present. We acknowledge inequities are frequently the result of policies and practices that work to marginalize entire populations of people. As such, the United Way seeks to focus on disparities related to race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, as well as other intersectional identities, to dismantle the historical, social, and systemic inequalities that persist in Sandusky County.

We acknowledge that we can only be successful if we recognize, raise up, and support leaders from underrepresented neighborhoods. United Way is committed to engaging these leaders as partners, donors, and volunteers. Further, we commit to intentionally creating pathways for them to be included in decision-making and leadership roles within our own and other organizations. We can only eliminate inequity when all individuals reach their fullest human potential. We maintain that building and sustaining equity in our county requires an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion that is fully expressed in out organizational culture, value, norms, and behaviors and those of our partners.

In keeping with this goal, the United Way of Sandusky County will create and maintain an organizational environment that reflects the composition of our community, enables all people to perform to their potential, and values different backgrounds, perspectives, teamwork, and collaboration.

The United Way of Sandusky County advocates and promotes diversity among its board, staff, volunteers, donors and community partners. Diversity recognizes the distinct differences of individuals and organizations and capitalizes on the strengths of each.

We will develop, implement, and measure specific strategies and plans that will lead to enhanced understanding, a shift in organizational culture, and ultimately a stronger United Way – able to reach the goals outlined in the Company’s strategic plan.