Subscribe to Our Newsletter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Awareness, Justice, Equity, & Inclusion (AJEDI)

gray angled border

Bay State Community Services Commitment to Awareness, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (AJEDI)

At Bay State Community Services, we continuously strive to be a culturally and linguistically responsive agency.  We are committed to respectful care that fully supports the cultural health beliefs, practices, and preferred languages of the people we serve.

We wholeheartedly believe that being culturally responsive is a continuous and dynamic learning process. Therefore, we embrace the concept of cultural humility in which all staff take the time to learn, challenge oneself, maintain our humility, recognize institutional racism, prejudice and bias as well as question our own individual belief systems so that we are actively addressing racism and bias in all of our work.

Diversity Statement

Bay State Community Services (BSCS) values all types of human diversity. Everyone contributes to the improvement of BSCS and the greater community. We remain committed to raising awareness and joining efforts of justice, equity, and inclusion.

We pledge:

  • To support Black Lives Matter
  • To speak out against racism, prejudice, and bigotry
  • To embrace diversity and inclusion
  • To find our voice and courage to speak up against behaviors or actions that disrespect others
  • To make a difference every day in moving us toward a healthy society
  • To have the hard conversations with an open heart and mind
  • To advocate for human rights for all
  • To look at ourselves and be accountable for our actions
  • To treat everyone we serve and each other with dignity and respect.

Thank you for being part of the solution.

Established June 11, 2020

Guiding Principles

Staff Commitments to Diversity and How We Work Together

Bay State Community Services is committed to cultural humility–the understanding that learning about people who make up the world and their life experiences is a never-ending process. We want to move from competency or proficiency toward a humble approach. To that end we strive to attain the following commitments:

  • Transparency
  • Speak specifically and clarify language you use (refrain from acronyms)
  • Uplift and encourage each other through our blind spots
  • Show up as your genuine self even during discomfort
  • Build and maintain trust
  • Calling in vs. Calling out
  • Recognize we have a shared agency but not a shared culture
  • Impact vs. Intention
  • Vulnerability is welcomed and highly encouraged
  • These agreements will be revisited frequently to ensure that they are meeting the committee’s needs.

Timeline

DEI Timeline Tree
2021 2020 2022 2023 2024

2021

This was formed in response to the murder of George Floyd. This discussion group creates a brave space for BSCS staff to discuss Anti-Racist topics through readings, podcasts, documentaries and more. These conversations are peer-led, and meetings are held bi-weekly.

2020

Under this leadership, On June 11, 2020, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts throughout BSCS expanded and continue to flourish today.

2022

In May, under this leadership, the Anti-Racism Committee (ARC) was restructured and re-named the AJEDI (Awareness, Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee. Program visits started to learn about DEI trends, needs, and goals
and the following teams were formed: Education and Training, Communications, Policy, and Procedures.

2023

The goal of the presentation is to increase transparency and to share agency goals with new hires. We invite new staff to join the AJEDI Committee.

2024

Program visits by the Director of DEI supports consistent communication with BSCS staff. The committee with be finalizing the mission, vision, values, and DEI strategic plan. BSCS will continue to participate in community cultural celebrations, connecting with organizations to benefit the communities we serve.

red angled border

AJEDI Committee

Awareness, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (AJEDI) Committee

What is the AJEDI Committee?

The Bay State Community Services’ (BSCS) AJEDI Committee is comprised of a diverse group of BSCS staff who are committed to developing sustainable resources, trainings, policies, and practices to support the recognition and advancement of historically marginalized groups.

What does the AJEDI Committee do?

The overarching AJEDI Committee is responsible for identifying and addressing areas related to diversity and inclusion within BSCS that require evaluation and improvement. Each committee member is involved in one of the following Committee Teams: Education & Training, Communications, and Policy & Procedures. Working as a team, each group addresses specific areas that are in need of improvement and takes meaningful action to create change within our organization.

Our AJEDI Committee Teams:

Education & Training
  • Assembling diversity resources for all staff to explore and utilize in their work and personal life
  • Organizing the Conversations Project (see “Conversations Project” tab for more information)
  • Collaborating with the Communications Team around communicating these initiatives, learning opportunities and resources to staff
Communications
  • Maintaining the AJEDI SharePoint site to be an easy-to-use, collaborative website for all things DEI at BSCS
  • Providing BSCS’ DEI and Communications and Development Director with editorial support, event assistance and communication support
  • Collaborating with the Education & Training Team to communicate about learning/training opportunities, including the Conversations Project
Policy & Procedures
  • Team has completed reviewing the Employee Handbook through the lens of DEI and provided feedback to Leadership
  • Reviewing Corporate Compliance, CLAS and other policies

Contact us at DEI@baystatecs.org

Conversations Project

At Bay State Community Services, we understand that cultural humility does not just happen; it requires a deep and unwavering investment at all levels.  

The Conversation Project is a safe, supportive, and welcoming space for staff to come together to learn, grow, explore, ask questions, gain knowledge, and continuously work towards our cultural humility.

The Conversation Project is a staff-led initiative with support from our Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  All staff are welcome and together they decide on books to read, discussion topics, participation in activities, and advocacy initiatives.

 

Woman speaking in a group setting

We understand that it takes all of us working together, communicating, and learning from one another to ensure we have a healthy, respectful, and culturally humble workplace and that we offer services that are founded in a deep understanding, unwavering respect, cultural responsiveness.

A Year in Review 2023

AJEDI Education and Training infographic