Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Pledge
The Why:
At East House, our mission is to empower individuals with mental health and substance use disorders to recover and live healthy, fulfilling lives in their community. East House programs and services address some of the most significant societal challenges here in Rochester: pervasive poverty, lack of affordable housing, major economic inequality (especially among communities of color) and segregation by race and ethnicity.
We know that people with serious mental health conditions and substance use disorders are more likely to face housing discrimination and interact with the criminal justice system many times in their lifetimes. We know that the young LGBTQ+ community has the highest rate of suicide in America because of discrimination and societal pressures. We know that marginalized groups who face discrimination due to disability, religious identity and more also face increased barriers to healthcare and housing. We know that individuals who intersect with more than one of these groups face even higher risks. Communities of color, particularly Black and Hispanic people, are especially at risk given statistics on discrimination and the disproportionate impact of police brutality and racism within society’s systems like criminal justice.
Creating a culture that embraces diversity*, equity and inclusion (DEI) is critical in order to empower served individuals and represent the community we live in. DEI does not just help the people we serve - it helps accomplish our overall mission. Substance use and mental health disorders do not discriminate but society does.
We believe that:
Civil rights are human rights and commitment to antiracism** is critical/ vital
Racism, classism, homophobia, ableism and religious discrimination are forms of trauma and need to be addressed for our population
Celebrating equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do requires an ongoing journey of listening, learning and taking action.
East House must address inequities to better serve our staff, clients and community and create lasting change.
*It is important to define what we mean by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
According to the DEI Extension we will refer to the following definitions:
Diversity is the presence of differences that may include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, (dis)ability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective. Populations that have been-and remain- underrepresented among practitioners in the field and marginalized in the broader society.
Equity is promoting justice, impartiality and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by institutions or systems. Tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within our society.
Inclusion is an outcome to ensure those that are diverse actually feel and/or are welcomed. Inclusion outcomes are met when you, your institution, and your program are truly inviting to all. To the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes and development opportunities within an organization or group.
** An antiracist idea is any idea that suggests the racial groups are equals in all their apparent differences—that there is nothing right or wrong with any racial group. Antiracist ideas argue that racist policies are the cause of racial inequities.