KCFAA Stands Up For Diversity Equity Inclusion

Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey celebrates and affirms Black lives and Black communities, and works to dismantle racism. Multiculturalism and intersectionality guide our efforts to combat and defeat systemic oppression. Our freedom and the fabric of these United States call on us to stand together in solidarity leaving no child, woman, or man behind. Please stand with us in the fight to create a just, free, and equitable society.

We are asking all like-minded individuals and organizations join us in a pledge to take action in furtherance of the goals of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.

We pledge to:

• Listen to others, especially those from historically marginalized communities
• Educate ourselves about the historical and systemic burdens that disproportionately affect people of color
• Read a book or watch a movie as a group then discuss
• Support business that share our values

For organizations:

• Regularly review and update human resources policies and practices to ensure they reflect current best practices
• Review employee population to determine whether it reflects the community served
• Review employee recruiting practices, and consider posting positions to agencies and media targeting communities of color
• Create and support mentoring programs to ensure newly-hired people of color feel welcome and included
• Provide employees of color opportunities to advance, and a voice in decision-making and hiring
• Increase the diversity of governing boards, whether the organization is a business or a philanthropic entity
• Encourage employees to vote, including taking time off work to vote if needed
• Consider sponsoring a voter registration drive at your place of business
• Establish a process for hiring more vendors of color
• If open to the public, make sure all customers feel welcome
•  If open to the public, review policies for seeking law enforcement intervention