DEI INITIATIVE

Nicole Thompson, DEI Committee Member and BHRC Coordinator, shares why she joined the DEI Committee:

“DE&I is not just a recent trend to include those who have historically not been invited to the table; it is not just a political move to appease the influencing powers at be. The true mission of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace is to authentically and intentionally highlight the lived experiences at all intersections of our social, economic, and political world, making an effort to honor and respect those that make us stunningly diverse.

I want to join alongside those who are looking to elevate the workplace, making it more safe, open-minded, and interpersonally intelligent where honesty is expected and lovingly received. I work here, I take these things seriously, and I plan to stick around to make a difference. It's my mission to urgently advance these goals to help make MHAAO be the best it can be!”

Max Day, DEI Committee Member and Peer Support Specialist, shares why they joined the DEI Committee:

“I joined the DEI committee because I believe wholeheartedly in the need for DEI implementation. As a transgender/queer individual, I have faced many inequities when trying to access and receive services. I want to use my voice to stand up for the specific needs of transgender and queer individuals. As a white person, I am aware of my immense privilege from the color of my skin and the inherent opportunities that brings. I want to provide space for voices that differ from my own and further educate myself on the needs of others from lived experiences I do not possess.

DEI does not just affect our organization, but everyone we connect to in our personal and professional lives. Being open to being uncomfortable, challenged, and humbled will help make our whole organization stronger, to become more responsive, attentive, and be more supportive of one another. Diversity is a beautiful thing that is worth our time, effort, and celebration. I believe it can only make us better humans to learn from the ones who live it every day; it is up to us to listen and place value towards those lived experiences.”

Rachelle Ross-Schank, DEI Committee Member and EVOLVE Program Manager, shares why she joined the DEI committee:

I joined the DEI committee to bring awareness to myself and others about the needs and challenges of the workforce serving marginalized peers and to be a stronger leader within my community through education, information, and the ability to have conversations that are more intentional around diversity, equity, and inclusion. I believe the committee can help MHAAO by bringing the DEI lens to every aspect of the agency, from finance, to hiring, to policies and so on. I have a strong desire to learn and grow and can pass this on to others within the organization through supervision and in the community to help others as well.

The DEI work is not just for the organization but the community we live in and we don’t know what we don’t know until we do the work to learn!

I joined the DEI committee because I am interested in true accountability to all institutions that ask POC, disabled folks, and LGBTQ individuals to do community work. The heavy labor is often left on the backs of the most marginalized members of society, and the very local community that the organization claims to do work, and I want to highlight how the nonprofit industry is no exception. My goal is to make peer work truly equitable and valuable for both the donor and recipient of services. I look forward to bringing my experience from previous DEI committees to MHAAO, to accomplish equitable continuous quality improvement. 

I hope that in MHAAO we can have a platform for stakeholders and peer participants, and staff members to work collaboratively in the creation, implementation, and evaluation of programs. I hope there is the space and opportunity to talk freely and openly about concerns, ideas, and dreams. I also hope there is always room for career development with adequate pay. Lastly, I hope to be in a space where all personal and professional boundaries are held and respected, guilt and judgment-free.