Statement of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, equity and inclusion are vital to achieving our mission, living our values and advancing the common good.

• Diversity: We take the broadest possible view of diversity, going beyond visible differences to affirm all individuals including the realities, background, experiences, skills and perspectives that make all people who they are. We know that by bringing diverse individuals and viewpoints together we can collectively and more effectively create opportunities for a better life for all.
• Equity: We seek to dismantle disparities and strive to engage community members, especially those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized, in the shared work of building better communities for all. We commit to leveraging all of our assets to create more equitable communities.  
• Inclusion: We foster and promote an inclusive environment that leverages the unique contributions of diverse individuals and organizations in all aspects of our work. Engaging the power of diverse talent and partners results in innovative solutions and the community ownership necessary to address complex community issues.

We value the inherent worth of every single person in our communities. 

• We recognize structural racism, ethnic discrimination and other forms of oppression have contributed to disparities that have existed in the past and continue to persist in the present across the state of Maine.
• We acknowledge those inequities are the result of policies, systems and institutional patterns that perpetuate racism and ethnic discrimination in our communities. 
• We unequivocally denounce all forms of discrimination because they undermine the well-being and vitality of our communities.

We remain committed to addressing these complex issues as a statewide organization through local efforts, such as:

• Advocating, raising awareness, and sharing our beliefs with the communities we serve;
• Leveraging established partnerships, community connections, and strategic investments to coordinate and drive efforts in this work;
• Aspiring to foster an inclusive environment that values and leverages the unique contributions of diverse individuals and organizations in our work;
• Engaging the power of diverse talent and partners, working toward innovative solutions and fostering community ownership necessary to address complex community issues; and
• Holding ourselves accountable, consistently examining and evolving our core beliefs over time, to honor the members of our communities.