Serving the needs of a diverse community

As we seek to create a thriving community for all, United Way recognizes the need for inclusive, just, and equitable access to resources and opportunities. Our community’s strength comes from our diversity, and we celebrate the qualities that make each person unique. 

Structural racism and other forms of oppression have contributed to persistent disparities. At United Way, we pledge to not only denounce racism, but all forms of systemic oppression. Only by confronting the root causes of disparities can we hope to eradicate them and begin to heal.  

We commit to fighting injustice in our community by: 

  • Incorporating this system-level work into our investments 

  • Supporting, listening to, and amplifying the voices of people of color

  • Partnering with our BIPOC neighbors so their expertise, perspectives, and priorities lead our work

We commit to cultivating diversity, equity, inclusion,
and belonging in all aspects of our organization

The board is committed to reflecting the make-up of Kent County in its membership so that all voices are represented. This includes diversity based on race, age, gender, expertise, abilities, and experiences.

Our board’s Organizational Inclusion and Development Committee serves to advise our organization on matters of inclusion, diversity, and organizational development. 

The Cultural Competency and Inclusion Council, our internal staff committee, commits to employee education and diversity training, and employees must participate in at least four cultural competency trainings per year. 

We continue to review and create job descriptions and performance evaluation measures to ensure we remove unintentional barriers to employment and hold ourselves accountable.

THE WORK STARTS WITHIN

Heart of West Michigan United Way first articulated our Transformation Strategy in 2020. In a year that brought us a world-altering pandemic and renewed calls for racial justice, we came to understand that if we were going to close the achievement gaps for people of color in Kent County and truly make our community just and equitable for all, we had to take a new approach.

See the concrete steps Heart of West Michigan United Way has taken to amplify the voices of the historically disenfranchised and put financial resources and the talents of our staff into the work of transformation.

The work is far from over. We will continue to relentlessly push ourselves to be more nimble, more adaptable, more accessible so that we can best meet the needs of all members of our community.