Update on our Work Around DEI Issues
“While this past year has illuminated continued acts of racial injustice and atrocities, the Wright-Locke Farm staff and Board has been grappling with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) at the Farm. We recognize, and have focused more attention on, our status as a privileged organization in a privileged community and are examining how to best be an ally in the dismantling of systemic racism.
A first, and critical, step has been for each of us to share our Sociocultural Perspective on race formed from our own personal circumstances and experiences. With a better understanding of our histories, identities and attitudes on race, we then focused on formulating individual and organizational goals to target areas in which we can be more inclusive–in our language, policies, programs, and overall operations.
The Farm staff and Board, through a series of ongoing meetings, have been discussing issues surrounding DEI and related topics of economic justice, food insecurity and environmental degradation. As a result, six specific initiatives have been identified as areas in which the farm could have a positive, albeit small, impact on these broad societal issues. Over the next twelve months, the Farm staff and Board will be developing these ideas and implementing initiatives where possible.
Initiatives include:
- Providing DEI training for our staff and Board
- Recognizing and celebrating the Indigenous history of the farm and environs
- Intentional education to our community on Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) topics, and outreach to BIPOC groups and BIPOC-owned businesses
- Addressing diversity in our educational program offerings for all ages, such as outreach in our local communities, and examining more closely the meaning and importance of diversity in nature education
- Examining accessibility of our goods and programming, to allow broad participation by all.
Our hope is that we can be authentic and intentional in what we do and how we play a part in abating the impacts of toxic injustices and inequities in our society, most notably racial and economic. We recognize that this is an ongoing process of learning and listening. We invite you to share your thoughts and wish to involve the community in our discussions as we continue along this journey. Please feel free to direct any comments or suggestions to Archie McIntyre, Executive Director, at amcintyre@wlfarm.org or any member of our Board or staff. We look forward to engaging with these important issues.
Sincerely,
The Wright-Locke Farm Team
