Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Who We Are

At the heart of our approach is the recognition that historically marginalized and underserved individuals and families across all cultures and identities in the areas where we work face similar barriers to accessing services such as: isolation, distrust of systems, fear or losing their children, institutionalized racism, stigma, cost, language, and culture. We address these challenges across all activities and services by providing trauma-informed, strengths based, culturally responsive programming that empowers individuals and families who have been historically marginalized and underserved to reach their personal goals.

Our Equity & Diversity Policy states: “Equity goes beyond diversity, requiring an examination of systemic policies and practices from both a historic and present day perspective in order to ensure the removal of the most pervasive and impactful inequities in our community, particularly inequities based on race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Impact NW will undertake this examination and will leverage power and resources to create a more equitable community.”

Our four main goals as identified by an Impact NW staff survey are:

1. DIVERSITY: Has policies and strategies for strengthening and maintaining organizational diversity; staff and board represent the diversity of the community it serves; effective retention strategies are implemented
2. INCLUSION: All staff and board feel valued; the organization has transitioned to an inclusive/multicultural culture and has created systems, policies and practices to maintain this culture
3. TRAINING: Fosters ongoing DEI training, growth and leadership among management, staff and board in line with an equity plan/strategy; staff are held accountable to DEI-related practices
4. COMMUNITY: Has strong, mutually beneficial, accountable and equitable partnerships with diverse organizations and leaders from communities facing disparities

The Impact NW Equity and Empowerment Lens can be viewed here (PDF)