Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Vision

We imagine a League that:
  • Embraces and embodies diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as inextricable from the mission to empower voters and defend democracy
  • Engages in purposeful action to advance DEI beyond words
  • Commits at the individual and collective level to being more self-aware and understanding of diverse perspectives and experiences 
  • Is known for being relevant, diverse, equitable, and inclusive—inside and out
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Position Statement
League of Women Voters of the United States

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion 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.
What do we mean by Diversity, Equity & Inclusion?
Excerpts from LWV US

DIVERSITY
Diversity includes all of the similarities and differences among people. Diversity refers to population groups that have been historically underrepresented in socially, politically, or economically powerful institutions and organizations. These groups include but are not restricted to populations of color. They may also include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations, people with disabilities, women, and other groups. A team can be diverse and so can an organization, but a person is not diverse. Diversity is about a collective or a group and can only exist in relationship to others. A candidate is not diverse — they are a unique, individual unit. They may bring diversity to your team, but they in themselves are not diverse.

EQUITY
Equity is an approach based in fairness to ensuring everyone is given equal opportunity; this means that resources may be divided and shared unequally to make sure that each person has a fair chance to succeed. Equity takes into account that people have different access to resources because of system of oppression and privilege. Equity seeks to balance that disparity.

Improving equity involves increasing justice and fairness within the procedures and processes of institutions or systems, as well as in their distribution of resources, including professional growth opportunities. Tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within our society. Equity prioritizes efforts to ensure the most underserved and marginalized among us has as much of an opportunity to succeed as the most well-served and advantaged. By taking into account the various advantages and disadvantages that people face, we work to ensure every person has an equal opportunity to succeed.

INCLUSION
Inclusion is an ongoing process, not a static state of being. It is the dynamic state of operating in which diversity is leveraged to create a healthy, high-performing organization and community. It refers to the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully in the decision-making processes within an organization or group.

An inclusive environment ensures equitable access to resources and opportunities for all. It also enables individuals and groups to feel safe, respected, engaged, motivated, and valued for who they are and for their contributions toward organizational and societal goals. While an inclusive group is by definition diverse, a diverse group is not always inclusive. Being aware of unconscious or implicit bias can help organizations better address issues of inclusivity.

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Spartanburg Racial Equity Index, 2018
This study is a comprehensive analysis of demographic and well-being data that reflect community conditions related to racial equity in Spartanburg County. Commissioned by the Spartanburg Community Indicators Project (SCIP) in 2018, the data gathered in this report are intended to help promote greater awareness and understanding of the depth and breadth of the differences between the white and black experience in Spartanburg County. The findings are intended to spark important conversations and to inform the work of many individuals, project partners, and organizations in Spartanburg County. These data, taken together, can inform the design of programs and policies that will improve community conditions and people’s lives. Read the entire report here.
 US Census Bureau QuickFacts 
QuickFacts provides statistics for all states and counties, and for cities and towns with a population of 5,000 or more. Type in the state, county, city, town or zip code of interest, then explore its data in a variety of formats including tables, maps and charts. You can also select specific topics of interest. A wealth of information is available to help understand the diversity of your community across a full range of factors.

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PO Box 6507, Spartanburg, SC 29304