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Many of you may remember hearing about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice when WSA adopted our first strategic plan in 2014 or when we started the RiverWise Congregations program in 2015. While some of WSA's efforts have resulted in relationships and projects that move toward equity and inclusion, we acknowledge that our work has been insufficient to create the change needed to restore our waterways and reach all communities in our county.
We now know that diversity, equity, inclusion and justice are not a part of WSA's work. They are WSA's work. Our vision – every community in Anne Arundel County is actively engaged to ensure a healthy environment for all – cannot be achieved without transformative changes within our organization and the way we engage all communities.
WSA cannot solve Anne Arundel's social inequities. Still, we also know that our work does not exist apart from the systems and realities that continue to cause division and exclusion. And so, we must find a new way.
Rest assured, WSA's mission remains the same, but how we approach our mission has changed. Going forward, we'll be revisioning the way we do grassroots community engagement. We recognize that to accomplish our mission, we'll need to build authentic relationships, elevate voices that have been silenced or ignored, and honor the collective wisdom within communities. Only then can we partner with all communities to find solutions to pursue a healthy environment for all.
Over the next several months, WSA's Board and staff will articulate an equity vision for the organization, set clear, measurable equity goals, and create a strategy to achieve those goals. Some of that work is ongoing within our existing programmatic and organizational channels, while other strategies require additional capacity.
One thing IS clear…The work of equity cannot be achieved without you – your observations, your volunteer efforts or your support. As this work unfolds, we will periodically reach out to update you on our progress and seek your thoughts and ideas.
In the meantime, I encourage you to consider attending the Environmental Justice Panel on Tuesday, November 9th at 7 p.m. This virtual program, in partnership with the Anne Arundel County Public Libraries, will be moderated by Steward and WSA Board Member, Carmera Thomas-Wilhite of the Conservation Fund, and feature panelists Jan-Michael Archer, University of Maryland's School of Public Health, Kate Fritz, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Ramon Palencia-Calvo, Maryland League of Conservation Voters, Randy K. Rowel, Chesapeake Research Consortium. You can learn more and register here.
Frank Dawson Suzanne Etgen
WSA Board Chair Executive Director
For more information about WSA’s DEIJ process to date and additional resources, please visit our website.
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