DEI Advisory Council
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council is committed to the continual transformation of The Children’s Guild and its affiliates into one that promotes social justice, freedom from oppression, and embraces the diverse representation within the agency and the communities we serve.
Conversations on racism and other types of discrimination are hot topics within our society and at The Children’s Guild. The heightened attention has revitalized The Guild’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council.
“We are in a place in our history where DEI components are critical to an organization,” says Rae Meneses, compliance coordinator and new chair of the DEI Advisory Council. “Our families want to know that we have expertise with the populations with whom we are working.”
The Guild has always valued diversity, but this year there has been an awakening of awareness. The executive leadership team has seized this opportunity to expand DEI efforts and nominated staff from across the organization to participate in the DEI Advisory Council and its subcommittees.
“As the definition of diversity expands to encompass race, ethnicity, gender, and the LGBTQIA+ community, it is important to recognize the intersection of these identities in the workplace and the communities we serve,” explains Meneses.
The DEI Advisory Council meets every two weeks to discuss different action items and deliverables. “Initially our goal was rapport building and establishing trust,” says Meneses. “As we progressed, we developed a plan and goals with measurable objectives. It is vital that the DEI Advisory Council play a permanent role at The Guild and not be a temporary fix.”
Increasing the representation of people from various backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and making space for their voices, will be a priority at The Guild for years to come.
For more information, questions, kudos or concerns please email: [email protected].
The Senior and Advisory Leadership’s Diversity and Inclusion Vision & Values Statement
Diversity in its many dimensions—including ethnicity, nationality, citizenship status, race, culture, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability and socioeconomic background—enriches our world.
In our work we embrace diversity, affirm identities and advocate for social justice, supporting those we partner with to experience full inclusion, as well as to be self-determining and flourishing in their various identities.
The Children’s Guild is committed to developing a diverse Senior Leadership, Advisory Leadership, and staff whose characteristics reflect the rich diversity of those families and children that we serve.
The Children’s Guild Senior and Advisory Leadership will continually strive to be an organization where diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are core values which drive decision-making, resource allocation, and all policies and practices. We embrace our work regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion with confidence, courage, hope, and humility, as we know it requires a sustained commitment. The Senior and Advisory Leadership believes that diversity enhances and enriches our world; and encourages the development of a DEI staff leadership whose characteristics reflect the rich tapestry of cultures/backgrounds/individuals of those families and children that we serve.
DEI CALENDAR
January 2021
Month-long observances:
- National Mentoring Month
- Poverty in America Awareness Month
- Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- January 4 – National Braille Day
- January 7 – Christmas (Eastern Orthodox)
- January 10 – Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
- January 17 – World Religion Day
- January 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 26 – International Customs Day
- January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
- January 28 — Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
February 2021
Month-long observances:
- American Heart Month
- Black History Month
- Human Relations Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- February 1 – National Freedom Day
- February 12 — Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox)
- February 14 – Valentine’s Day
- February 15 – Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
- February 15 – Presidents’ Day (U.S.A.)
- February 16 – Mardi Gras
- February 17 – Ash Wednesday
- February 20 – World Day of Social Justice
- February 25 — Purim (Jewish)
March 2021
Month-long observances:
- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
- Ethnic Equality Month
- Gender Equality Month
- Greek-American Heritage Month
- Irish-American Heritage Month
- National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
- National Kidney Month
- National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness and Education Month
- National Women’s History Month
- Social Work Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- March 5 – Employee Appreciation Day
- March 8 – International Women’s Day
- March 11 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
- March 14 – Pi Day
- March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
- March 19 – Naw-Ruz (Baha’I New Year)
- March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
- March 27 – Passover begins (Jewish)
- March 28 – Holi (Hindu)
- March 28 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
- March 31 – Equal Pay Day
- March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility
April 2021
Month-long observances:
- Arab-American Heritage Month
- Autism Awareness Month
- Celebrate Diversity Month
- Earth Month
- National Child Abuse Prevention Month
- National Volunteer Month
- Tartan (Scottish-American) Heritage Month
- Occupational Therapy Month
- Counseling Awareness Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
- April 2 – Good Friday (Christian)
- April 4 – Easter (Christian)
- April 8 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish)
- April 12 – Ramadan begins (Muslim)
- April 13 – Equal Pay Day
- April 20 – Start of Rivdan (Baha’i)
- April 22 – Earth Day
- April 23 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQIAA+)
May 2021
Month-long observances:
- ALS Awareness Month
- Haitian Heritage Month
- Indian Heritage Month
- Jewish-American Heritage Month
- Lupus Awareness Month
- Mental Health Month
- National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Older Americans Month
- South Asian American Heritage Month
- Better Speech and Hearing Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
- May 9 – Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
- May 10 – Lupus Awareness Day
- May 11 – Ramadan ends (Muslim)
- May 12 – Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)
- May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- May 22 – Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
- May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
- May 31 – Memorial Day
June 2021
Month-long observances:
- AIDS Awareness Month
- Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
- Black Music Month
- National Caribbean American Heritage Month
- Pride Month (LGBTQIAA+)
Important D&I calendar dates:
- June 8 — Race Unity Day
- June 12 – Loving Day
- June 19 – Juneteenth
- June 20 – National Indigenous Peoples Day
- June 21 – Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)
- June 24 – Pride Day (LGBTQIAA+) (varies by city and country)
July 2021
Month-long observances:
- French-American Heritage Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- July 4 – Independence Day
- July 9 – Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
- July 11 – World Populace Day
- July 14 – Bastille Day
- July 18 – International Nelson Mandela Day
- July 19 – Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
- July 24 – Pioneer Day (Mormon)
- July 26 – National Disability Independence Day
- July 30 – International Day of Friendship
August 2021
Month-long observances:
- National Civility Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
- August 9 – Hijri New Year (Muslim)
- August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day
- August 19 – World Humanitarian Day
- August 26 – Women’s Equality Day
- August 29 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
September 2021
Month-long observances:
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- National Guide Dog Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- September 6 – Labor Day
- September 7 – Rosh Hashanah begins (Jewish)
- September 11 – Patriot Day (U.S.A.)
- September 15 – International Day of Democracy
- September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
- September 20 – Sukkot begins (Jewish)
- September 21 – International Day of Peace
- September 26 – European Day of Languages
- September 27 — World Tourism Day
October 2021
Month-long observances:
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Bullying Prevention Month
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month
- Filipino-American Heritage Month
- Italian-American Heritage Month
- LGBTQ History Month
- National Work and Family Month
- Polish-American Heritage Month
- Family History Month
- National Physical Therapy Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- October 2 – International Day of Nonviolence
- October 6 – Navrati begins (Hindu)
- October 10 – World Mental Health Day
- October 11 – National Coming Out Day (LGBTQIAA+)
- October 11 – National Native American Day
- October 15 – White Cane Safety Day (Blind awareness)
- October 16 – Bosses’ Day
- October 17 – Spirit Day (LGBTQIAA+ anti-bullying)
- October 19 – Eid Milad ul-Nabi (Muslim)
- October 20 – Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth)
- October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day
- October 31 – Halloween
- October 31 – Dia de los Muertos begins
November 2021
Month-long observances:
- November (awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer)
- National Native American, American Indian, and Alaskan Native Heritage Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- November 4 – Diwali (Hindu)
- November 6 – Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
- November 7 – Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
- November 9 – World Freedom Day
- November 11 – Veterans Day
- November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
- November 24 – Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
- November 25 – Thanksgiving
- November 27 – Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i)
- November 28 – Hanukkah begins (Jewish)
December 2021
Month-long observances:
- Universal Human Rights Month
Important D&I calendar dates:
- December 1 – World AIDS Day
- December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities
- December 10 – International Human Rights Day
- December 21 – Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
- December 25 – Christmas (Christian)
- December 26 – Kwanzaa begins
- December 31 – New Year’s Eve