At the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, equity is at the heart of all we do. It is foundational to our vision for the Dubuque region and it is one of our organization’s core values.
Through our community partnerships, we strive to transform the systems that serve people in our region in a way that achieves equitable outcomes for everyone. Our Inclusive Dubuque network, established in 2012, is one outgrowth of our commitment to equity.
How Our Journey Started
Just as we promote and support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in our community, we also recognize the need to strengthen our own DEI muscles. Our learning journey began in fall 2018 when staff members attended our own DEI training series for local nonprofits, Race Forward. The workshops set us on a path to develop and implement efforts that help our own staff better understand DEI concepts and how they can influence our work.
Building Our DEI Learning Plan
This toolkit is our way of sharing what we’ve learned — and continue to learn. Throughout this process, we leverage the passion and curiosity of our staff to identify DEI learning topics, research training materials, and present to one another on these subjects. In many cases, we lean on the expertise of community members, inviting local partners to lead training sessions. While the process isn’t always smooth, our commitment to learning about DEI concepts and ensuring that our work reflects what we’ve learned drives these efforts.
Sharing Our Experience
The journey begins by diving in. But understanding where to start with such a complex topic isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s our pleasure to share what we’ve learned with others. This toolkit is meant to be a guide and provide suggestions for how to approach your own learning. It includes topic ideas, resources and information about local experts, all of which has informed our own staff discussions.
It’s also a reminder that you are not alone on this journey. The Dubuque community is full of peers tackling these same concepts who want to help you. Together, we can build a Dubuque region that is welcoming, inclusive and compassionate.
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