OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

At ASJ, we are deeply committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace where all employees, board members, partners, and volunteers feel valued, respected, and involved.

The work of justice requires all of us. We strive to build an inclusive culture where difference is valued and all are encouraged to bring their full, authentic selves to the work we do together.

We will boldly encourage, support, and celebrate the diverse voices of our communities. Together, we will build a more just society.

Diversity

Diversity is the presence of difference within a given setting. In this case, the workplace is the setting and the differences typically refer to identities like race, gender, ethnicity, religion, economic standing, nationality, and sexual orientation. Diversity can only exist in relationship to others — in a collective or group. A person is not diverse — they’re a unique, individual unit. They can bring diversity to a group, though.

Diversity is essential to ASJ, whose vision of working together to create a more just society cannot be fulfilled without collaboration between diverse groups. 

Equity

Equity is an approach that ensures everyone has access to the same opportunities. Equity recognizes that we don’t all start from the same place because of structural factors that benefit some communities and harm others. Equity seeks to correct that. Diversity and inclusion are both outcomes. Equity is not; it is the process an organization engages in to ensure that people with historically marginalized identities have the necessary opportunities to grow and contribute.

Equity is vital to ASJ; though our vision welcomes all, it can be too easy to overlook that there are structural barriers in who can access spaces of resources and leadership in justice work. 

Inclusion is important to ASJ, especially in an environment where it may be easier to include voices that affirm our desire for safety rather than voices that uncomfortably call us to justice. 

As a Christian justice organization, ASJ is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion - all of which are essential to the work of justice and part of our core Christian identity. We believe that in doing this work, we are working toward a key part of the biblical vision of shalom.

We are committed not only to the end result of justice, but also to the daily process of restoring what has been lost due to our individual and collective tendencies to preserve power and convenience, and to avoid confrontations of injustice. We believe having a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement is not enough and that we also need to build the core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into our operations.

We recognize that our role as a NGO is closely linked with power. As a North American NGO in partnership with a Honduran NGO, we recognize that within this partnership we are in a position of power and privilege. As such, this requires ASJ-US to have a spirit of humility and pursue equity with our partner.

We know it is essential that we embody these values in our investments of time, money, and voice in order to maintain and pursue our radically hopeful vision of a more just society.

See diversity, equity, and inclusion as connected to our mission and critical to ensure the well-being of our staff, board, and the communities we serve.

Intentionally attend events and connect with other justice organizations committed to anti-racism to pursue mutual learning and growth.

Develop more intentionally inclusive processes for hiring, board recruitment, and vendor selection.

Maintain this page on our website to transparently communicate our journey in diversity, inclusion, and equity (ex. our CORR training) to help hold us accountable.