LWV is an organization fully committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.
There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.
Applying a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lens
To apply a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens use the questions below. These questions were thoughtfully developed to help guide all forms of program development, advocacy efforts, outreach initiatives, event coordinating, communications, and staffing.
Who is involved in the process?
- Are key stakeholders meaningfully included?
- Is this work that impacts a group or community? If so, is their voice represented?
- How diverse is the group of decision-makers? Is it diverse enough?
Who will be impacted?
- Who benefits from this?
- Who is burdened by this?
- Does this help us meet the needs of underserved voters?
- Have we considered various, specific marginalized groups and how they might be impacted?
What are the intended and unintended outcomes?
- What issue are we trying to solve?
- What do we hope will happen?
- What are the potential negative impacts? Who could be hurt by this?
- What data or evidence supports this?
- How might this be perceived by others?
Does this align with our vision for an equitable and inclusive organization?
- How is equity addressed?
- What barriers might this place in the way of achieving equity?
- How does this impact the League’s culture?
- What changes could be made to make this more equitable?
