Vision and Purpose

We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential. We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity. Systemic and institutional inequities, especially in matters of race, remain significant barriers for people and communities working to reach their full potential. We recognize that to achieve our vision, we must lead our social sector in making the changes we want to see in society. Our charge is to:

  • Lead, with compassion, for social justice
  • Stand in the gap to support all those who are affected by inequity
  • Create space at the table for all groups to contribute
  • Support economic growth in diversity
  • Build a society that is committed to engaging the voices and respecting the humanity of all people

Values and Principles

We celebrate diversity and its power to improve any endeavor. The values that guide our work are:

  • Compassion
  • Inclusion
  • Trust
  • Love
  • Engaging all voices
  • Respect for human dignity

The Alliance network is committed to sustained actions over time to advance equity in our society and systems, beginning with the social sector in which we operate. Our work to advance equity will be guided by the following principles:

  • Equity is a basic human right; everyone benefits from equity
  • Action is a proactive strategy and response to hate; we are willing to challenge injustice and untruths at play in society today
  • The system we operate in contributes to inequity; we strive to understand the role our system plays in perpetuating oppression, and to address the dynamics that support it
  • We value and engage all voices in this conversation. We are especially committed to incorporating and elevating the voice of lived experience

Core Strategies

We will work in multiple ways to make progress towards our vision of an equitable system and society. Our core strategies include:

  • Applying relevant theories of development to our work, pulling from all fields of practice within our network
  • Acting as a leader and a voice for courageous action, taking a stance on issues and events of the day within the framework of our core values and vision for the future
  • Educating individuals and organizations that are working to expand and accelerate practices around diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Actively investing in the success and sustainability of our commitment including working with funders and partners who share our values and vision for the future
  • Creating spaces for brave conversations by:
    • Keeping equity as a central consideration in everything our network does
    • Working to ensure that all who engage with the network are also engaging in the core challenge of advancing equity for our society
  • Working collectively as a network to multiply our impact and achieve more than a single individual or organization can achieve alone

This statement was co-created with the Advancing Equity Alliance Peer Exchange group. Learn more and join.