Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) are crucial principles that guide SHELTER’s board, staff, and volunteers toward greater fairness and justice. Embracing DEIB is a moral imperative rooted in SHELTER’s values of compassion, accountability, integrity, and dignity.

Diversity within SHELTER encompasses the presence of individuals from various demographic backgrounds such as race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disabilities, immigration status, neurodiversity, and socioeconomic status. Our Equity lens ensures that all people have supportive pathways to opportunities, resources, and benefits regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances. It requires addressing systemic barriers and biases that perpetuate inequality, and working towards fairness and justice.

SHELTER’s practice of Inclusion seeks to create an environment where all individuals feel respected, and empowered to participate fully. Understanding that each person must recognize our inherent biases and rectify them, we actively engage diverse perspectives in decision-making processes, policies, and practices to identify discrimination and generate innovative solutions. The emotional and psychological experience of feeling accepted, valued, and supported is the essence of Belonging.

SHELTER views DEIB as an essential framework for building equitable and inclusive organizations and societies. By embracing diversity, striving for equity, fostering inclusion, and nurturing a sense of belonging, we can create spaces where every individual can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential. We at SHELTER commit to continuous learning, introspection, understanding systemic barriers and acting on behalf of justice.

We believe that DEIB is a catalyst for positive change and sustainable success in our increasingly interconnected world.