Commitment to Racial Equity

It is never easy to talk about the racial inequity we have within the United States. Many of us believe, and it has been proven far too many times, that talking about it is all we ever do. But now we are all facing a unique opportunity to turn the recent tragedies and dialogue into real change. It is one thing to advocate for justice and inclusion for everyone; it is another to turn our gaze inward and commit ourselves to live those values at the level of day-to-day practice. I have often said that eitas is more than a social service organization; we are a social justice organization working every day to bring equity and inclusion to the people we support – those with developmental disabilities.

We now have the chance to expand our advocacy beyond our statutory boundaries and support racial equity and inclusion within eitas, locally and nationally. Making a commitment to living our values and changing our day-to-day practices involves more than appeals to “diversity” or “inclusion.” We need to examine and transform, as needed, every aspect of eitas’ operational and organizational life, from hiring and recruitment, to daily management and more. Such change will not only make us more relevant to those we serve, but there will be ways in which this commitment to racial equity can unlock new collaborations, creativity, and innovation within eitas and across our communities.

The commitment I am making and asking the rest of you to join me in, will be an ongoing project. As President Obama said recently “…it will be a marathon, not a sprint.” I want us to be able to work together, share experiences, develop solutions, improve our organizational culture; and in turn, improve ourselves and those around us. We are a respected and influential organization. We need to join together, no matter what color, from the Board members to the bus drivers, and show our communities that our culture and operations actively support equality, inclusion, and justice for all.

Sincerely,
Jake Jacobs, Eitas Executive Director