DEI Focus
represent
represent
What?
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.
Three simple words that hold a world of meaning, of potential, of power, of hope.
In 2019, WGC Advisory Board Members took their first steps in actively learning about - and proactively addressing - issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a group, they read “Waking Up White” and used the stories and discussion questions as an opportunity to begin to share, listen, and process the very real presence of structural racism so prevalent in our country even now.
And then they took action.
The WGC’s DEI Committee, created in 2019, benefited greatly from the outstanding leadership of Co-Chairs Judy Smith and Hina Naseem.
The Committee’s goal was both straightforward and transformative: to ensure that DEI became integrated throughout all aspects of WGC business.
Committee members focused on removing institutional barriers related to DEI - from who was invited to serve on the Advisory Board to how Board meetings were run to reviewing and rewriting the processes and documents central to the organization’s operations.
The DEI Committee was dissolved in 2021 after achieving these goals and more. DEI initiatives are now embedded into every WGC committee, overseen by the full Advisory Board and select DEI specialists who serve to ensure that all recommendations are implemented and all conscious and unconscious biases are minimized if not removed entirely from committee activities, decisions, and outreach.
We have made it a necessity to move beyond the feel-good rhetoric and positive optics of diversity, equity, and inclusion to having DEI initiatives drive leadership engagement and be embedded into every business decision. - Judy Smith
And yet the work continues, as it must.Far too often such initiatives are performative at best, which is why the WGC Advisory Board keeps DEI as an agenda item and actively continues to assess progress, identify trends, and make strategic adjustments as necessary.
So What?
Hand-in-hand with the efforts occurring at the organizational level came a variety of partnerships, programs, and initiatives intended to further the reach and impact of the Circle’s commitment to DEI.
The WGC joined Philanos, a national organization whose mission is to inspire women’s philanthropic leadership. As part of its core values, “Philanos believes that organizations that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) create environments that respect and value individual differences. Inclusive organizations foster cultures that minimize bias and make decisions better able to address systemic inequities.”
We also support Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), founded in 2011 and observed every August in order to inform, involve, inspire, and invest in Black Philanthropic Leadership. The WGC was honored to virtually host Tracey Webb and Valaida Fullwood, co-architects of BPM, as guest speakers to kick-off BPM celebrations during their 10th anniversary year in August of 2021.
We launched Our Giving, Our Stories, which began as a way to amplify the voices and stories of Black women philanthropists here in Howard County, MD and morphed into a year-round opportunity to spotlight giving women throughout our community.
And we funded an extraordinary initiative in partnership with local nonprofit The 3rd and The Highland Project focused on developing a leadership development program for Women of Color in Howard County that we’ll discuss further in an upcoming story.
There is another decisive step the WGC took in order to facilitate inclusivity among its leadership: the extension of virtual Advisory Board Meetings. Initially started during the pandemic as a way to meet safely, the Board intentionally chose to continue the practice of virtual meetings moving forward. Consider the many barriers of attending a meeting in person: access to transportation, commute time, unpredictable traffic, time away from work or family. Now Advisory Board Members can join from wherever they are and focus their whole attention on the business of the WGC in a way that fits seamlessly into their daily lives.
Now What?
The words of WGC Advisory Board Chair Barb Van Winkle say it best:
In time, the hope is that such committed efforts surrounding DEI will naturally evolve, but until that time the WGC will continue to work and work hard to build a space for all women and girls, a place where all voices are heard, all perspectives considered, and where the challenges faced by any are met and overcome by all.
For 20 years, the WGC has dedicated itself to leveraging our collective dollars, to amplifying the power of collective giving, to building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.
Will you join us?
Be a part of our story.
#WGC20Years
#WGC20Years20Stories
Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.
Three simple words that hold a world of meaning, of potential, of power, of hope.
In 2019, WGC Advisory Board Members took their first steps in actively learning about - and proactively addressing - issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a group, they read “Waking Up White” and used the stories and discussion questions as an opportunity to begin to share, listen, and process the very real presence of structural racism so prevalent in our country even now.
And then they took action.
The WGC’s DEI Committee, created in 2019, benefited greatly from the outstanding leadership of Co-Chairs Judy Smith and Hina Naseem.
- The WDC DEI Committee held its initial meeting to lay out committee goals and objectives. These wonderful women shared their insight and expertise to pave the way towards effective and necessary change. With momentum in place, co-chair Judy Smith and I, along with the WGC Advisory Board, are eager to work with this panel of women who bring experience, positivity and enthusiasm to make a lasting difference in the ever-changing landscape that is Howard County. - Hina Naseem
The Committee’s goal was both straightforward and transformative: to ensure that DEI became integrated throughout all aspects of WGC business.
Committee members focused on removing institutional barriers related to DEI - from who was invited to serve on the Advisory Board to how Board meetings were run to reviewing and rewriting the processes and documents central to the organization’s operations.
The DEI Committee was dissolved in 2021 after achieving these goals and more. DEI initiatives are now embedded into every WGC committee, overseen by the full Advisory Board and select DEI specialists who serve to ensure that all recommendations are implemented and all conscious and unconscious biases are minimized if not removed entirely from committee activities, decisions, and outreach.
We have made it a necessity to move beyond the feel-good rhetoric and positive optics of diversity, equity, and inclusion to having DEI initiatives drive leadership engagement and be embedded into every business decision. - Judy Smith
And yet the work continues, as it must.Far too often such initiatives are performative at best, which is why the WGC Advisory Board keeps DEI as an agenda item and actively continues to assess progress, identify trends, and make strategic adjustments as necessary.
So What?
Hand-in-hand with the efforts occurring at the organizational level came a variety of partnerships, programs, and initiatives intended to further the reach and impact of the Circle’s commitment to DEI.
The WGC joined Philanos, a national organization whose mission is to inspire women’s philanthropic leadership. As part of its core values, “Philanos believes that organizations that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) create environments that respect and value individual differences. Inclusive organizations foster cultures that minimize bias and make decisions better able to address systemic inequities.”
We also support Black Philanthropy Month (BPM), founded in 2011 and observed every August in order to inform, involve, inspire, and invest in Black Philanthropic Leadership. The WGC was honored to virtually host Tracey Webb and Valaida Fullwood, co-architects of BPM, as guest speakers to kick-off BPM celebrations during their 10th anniversary year in August of 2021.
- "The Women's Giving Circle of Howard County is among the first giving circles to support Black Philanthropy Month by becoming a sponsor. The WGC's continued support as a BPM Sponsor is helping to lead the way nationally for giving circles to promote and invest in black philanthropic leadership during August and year-round." - Valaida Fullwood
We launched Our Giving, Our Stories, which began as a way to amplify the voices and stories of Black women philanthropists here in Howard County, MD and morphed into a year-round opportunity to spotlight giving women throughout our community.
- "We are excited to build upon our support of National Black Philanthropy Month to develop 'Our Giving, Our Stories' into a year-long philanthropic leadership recognition effort. Inspiring philanthropic leadership and increasing giving by amplifying the voices of women and girls are among the goals of this effort and we are committed to advancing this important work in our community. - Judy Smith and Hina Naseem
And we funded an extraordinary initiative in partnership with local nonprofit The 3rd and The Highland Project focused on developing a leadership development program for Women of Color in Howard County that we’ll discuss further in an upcoming story.
There is another decisive step the WGC took in order to facilitate inclusivity among its leadership: the extension of virtual Advisory Board Meetings. Initially started during the pandemic as a way to meet safely, the Board intentionally chose to continue the practice of virtual meetings moving forward. Consider the many barriers of attending a meeting in person: access to transportation, commute time, unpredictable traffic, time away from work or family. Now Advisory Board Members can join from wherever they are and focus their whole attention on the business of the WGC in a way that fits seamlessly into their daily lives.
- "Our goal is to continue to increase inclusivity while having more diverse voices at the virtual table. We hope by conducting our WGC operations virtually, we will be providing a more equitable platform for women to engage in the work of the WGC." - Judy Smith and Nina Haseem
Now What?
The words of WGC Advisory Board Chair Barb Van Winkle say it best:
- In our 20th Anniversary year, I am so proud to report that we have invested several years in developing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion framework for all the work that we do. It has always been a focus for our circle. Our Executive Director, and one of our founders, Buffy Beaudoin-Schwartz had been working on DEI efforts in the philanthropic sector nationally and brought the important work and resources to our circle, and I instantly embraced it, as did our Advisory Board as we knew this was pivotal work for our organization. We have always embraced diversity, equity, and inclusion and we were ready to take action to embed the principles into everything we do. We are on a journey and continue to learn every day, but our Advisory Board is fully invested in this work and it is now woven into the fabric of our efforts. I am deeply moved by and proud of this important work and it is what I hope will be my legacy when my term as WGC Chair ends this December. - Barb Van Winkle
In time, the hope is that such committed efforts surrounding DEI will naturally evolve, but until that time the WGC will continue to work and work hard to build a space for all women and girls, a place where all voices are heard, all perspectives considered, and where the challenges faced by any are met and overcome by all.
For 20 years, the WGC has dedicated itself to leveraging our collective dollars, to amplifying the power of collective giving, to building a community of philanthropists and creating a permanent legacy to address the needs of women and girls in Howard County.
Will you join us?
Be a part of our story.
#WGC20Years
#WGC20Years20Stories
