Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Bay State Community Services Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
We are a community of caretakers and healers and at this painful time it is imperative that we come together to use our talents, skills, passion, and resources to truly make a difference.Together with our Board of Directors, Leadership Team, and all of you…
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
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.
DEI Timeline
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.
Bay State Community Services (BSCS) Awareness, Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (AJEDI) Committee is comprised of a diverse group of BSCS staff who are committed to developing sustainable resources, trainings, policies, and practices available to all staff. The Committee’s main goal is to support the recognition and advancement of historically marginalized groups.
The Conversations Project was born in the late spring of 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd at the hands of police officer, Derek Chauvin. Mr. Floyd’s death on May 25th, captured on film for the world to see; amplified the #BlackLivesMatter movement and helped to shed light on the countless deaths of Black people in America due to racism and injustice. The last 9 minutes and 22 seconds of Mr. Floyd’s death resonated with throngs of people at home and abroad who were a captive audience due to the worldwide Coronavirus pandemic. Worldwide protests and demonstrations against police brutality, injustice, and systemic racism brought laser focus to the concerns that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) had been raising for hundreds of years. Names like Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, and countless others became part of the everyday vernacular begging us for justice in their deaths, acknowledgement of their humanity, and a deep painful examination of our own complicity.
As community-based providers, we were grappling with our own grief, trying to make sense of our world not only upended by a global pandemic, compounded by a racial and social justice reckoning. A small group of Clinicians initially gathered over Zoom to share in their grief, and this expanded to managing that grief through action. The group evolved and multiple departments linking community-based work, public health prevention, recovery, and child welfare showed up week after week to discuss not only what changes they were making individually to improve themselves and their corners of the world, but impact this was having on their work, their leadership, and ultimately the care offered to families. The members of the group committed to understanding racism at its core, study the history, policies, and structures that allow it to flourish, and to change it through everyday action.
A Year in Review 2023
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:
Contact us at DEI@baystatecs.org