By Maya Rahman-Rios, Elevo Content Manager
Fostering an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued and empowered, both for our students and our team, is something that has always been important to us. Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is not just a corporate initiative; it’s a fundamental part of who we are.
As we continue to grow and innovate, we recognize that our greatest asset is our people – a vibrant group from different backgrounds, sharing different perspectives, and having different experiences. Here’s how we’ve dove deep into DEIB efforts and continue to celebrate the impact these efforts have on our community and workplace culture.
A DEIB Refresher – What is DEIB?
The four concepts that make up DEIB go hand-in-hand, together promoting a more equitable and inclusive society.
- Diversity: the variety of human differences, including race, gender, age, physical ability, ethnicity, and more.
- Equity: the act of treating everyone fairly and providing equal opportunities, regardless of differences.
- Inclusion: creating a warm, welcoming, respectful environment where all feel valued and supported despite their differences.
- Belonging: feeling like you are valued, supported, accepted, and respected for who you are.
What DEIB Means to Us
We aim to create a diverse and inclusive work environment where staff feel safe to bring their authentic selves to work, and it is crucial to us that every single team member feels welcome, included, accepted, and heard. We have started the work internally, allowing us to make an impact on the diverse communities we work with externally throughout California. Just as we teach our students in our SEL curriculum, we approach DEIB with a growth mindset and are committed to our continued learning and improvement in the DEIB space.
What We’re Doing in 2024
Since last year, we’ve continued to ramp up our DEIB efforts. Here’s what we’ve accomplished so far this year. And, we’re just getting started.
Employee Impact Groups
This year, we’ve created the first of several Employee Impact Groups (EIGs), PRIDE. PRIDE stands for Promoting Respect, Inclusivity, & Diversity at Elevo. This group serves as a network and resource for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer and allied employees, to be seen, promote inclusion, foster awareness and build connectedness within a safe space. PRIDE is led by employees, for employees, and allows us to promote community and allyship within our organization.
Spotlight Interviews
We’ve also had the opportunity to sit down with employees for interviews that highlight their accomplishments, starting with our Senior Vice President of Marketing, Karin Wu. With over 30 years of experience spanning multiple industries and continents, Karin shared her story of navigating cultural challenges, embracing change, and advocating for inclusivity. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to gain further insight into our team’s diverse contributions.
Read Karin’s full interview here.
To read more about our previous DEIB initiatives, click here.
Final Thoughts
We’re on an ongoing journey toward true diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and we’re committed to continuous improvement. Together, we can create a workplace that not only celebrates our differences but thrives because of them. We appreciate all of our district partners, team members, educators, students, and coaches who are an integral part of our community. Here’s to another year of fostering inclusivity!
