United Way's Diversity and Inclusion Work
Improving Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity is the quality of being different or unique at the individual or group level. It can include work style, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, skin color, language, age, mental and physical abilities - and more.
Inclusion is a strategy to leverage diversity. Diversity always exists in social systems. Inclusion must be created. To leverage diversity, an environment must be created where people feel supported, listened to, and able to do their personal best.
Diversity, inclusion, and living united. At United Way of the Columbia-Willamette we take these to heart. We envision a world where everyone feels valued and included. Unfortunately, in our region and all over our country, there are those who have not been included or had a voice in decisions that affect their lives.
As our country has become more global, we have experienced social, economic, and demographic shifts. Social service, education, government, business, and other institutional systems have not been prepared to keep up with those changes, and consequently some have suffered the effects of exclusion, intolerance, and discrimination. We recognize this challenge, and our responsibility to be more diverse and inclusive as we strive to help people and change lives in our community.
We are working to make United Way of the Columbia-Willamette a learning organization that seeks input and adapts to changes in the community, our donors and staff. We can no longer cling to old ways of doing business, but must be innovative, creative, and courageous to move diversity and inclusion to the next level.
We seek to work in partnership with you, members of our community, to address inequities, bias, and discrimination that interfere with true inclusion in our region.
Diversity and Inclusion Blogging
United Way's internal Diversity and Inclusion Team periodically blogs about diversity issues. Below are the most recent posts.
- Housing & Health for People of Color in Portland, by Ellen Yarnell
- Pride Month, by Michelle House
- April is National Volunteer Month, by Michelle House
- My Bad Habit, by Colin McCormack
The Diversity and Inclusion Paradox
Are you prepared for the rapidly changing demographics of our community?
Last year United Way of the Columbia-Willamette brought together 500 people from across the region to learn about diversity and inclusion from expert and author Andrés Tapia.
We invite you to watch the recording of Mr. Tapia's presentation. Learn about the "next generation of diversity," what inclusion really means, how equality does not equal "sameness," why Mr. Tapia thinks the world is "upside down" and how the workplace was ready for people who look different but wasn't ready for people who think different.
Gain insight into these questions and more by watching this presentation in two parts. Click on each image to start playing the video.
To learn more about Mr. Tapia and his book, The Inclusion Paradox: The Obama Era and the Transformation of Global Diversity visit inclusionparadox.com
This event was sponsored by:
