HomeMy WebLinkAboutReach Beyond Program_ Vision, Mission, and PrioritiesReach Beyond Program:Vision,Mission,and Priorities
The proposed program,Reach Beyond Diversity:Embracing Equity and Inclusion (Reach
Beyond),will be a joint effort between Reach Counseling and The Ellevate Collective to expand
access to and availability of diversity,equity and inclusion (DEI)programming in the Fox Valley
(while prioritizing organizations that serve the City of Oshkosh).Reach Counseling (Reach)is a
local non-profit serving Winnebago,Outagamie,and Calumet Counties that specializes in the
prevention of and response to sexual violence.Reach has partnered with The Ellevate
Collective since 2020 to further our organization’s diversity,equity,inclusion,and anti-racism
journey.Since 2020,we have grown to understand that sexual violence is inextricably linked
with all other forms of oppression.Sexual violence is fundamentally about power and control.
Power imbalances based on factors such as gender,race,class,and sexuality create
environments where certain groups are more vulnerable to abuse.We recognize that in order to
promote changes in our community to ensure justice and equality for survivors,we must
promote changes for social equality as a whole.
Reach Counseling envisions a socially just community that prioritizes and empowers healing for
all impacted by sexual violence.As an anti-violence agency,we strive to heal lives and
transform communities.The Ellevate Collective’s vision is to empower leaders to show up and
be positive influences from every seat they sit in –at every level and across every industry.
Similarly,the vision of this proposed program is to foster a socially transformed community of
leaders that celebrate and honor cultural differences.The program's priorities include:centering
the most marginalized community members,enhancing our community’s cultural competency,
and providing the skills to embody anti-racism in the workplace and in the community.
The Reach Beyond program will assess the needs of the City of Oshkosh/Fox Valley through
surveys,roundtables,and focus group discussions with a diverse group of community members.
Through these efforts we will determine the current status of Diversity,Equity,Inclusion,and
Engagement (DEIE)within City of Oshkosh/Fox Valley programs and build curriculums to
expand each program's proficiency in DEIE in order to address demonstrated disparities and
resulting needs.These educational services could potentially include (but are not limited to):
cultural competency in the workplace,providing culturally responsive services for marginalized
communities,understanding and recognizing microaggressions,bias awareness,interrupting
anti-blackness,inclusive leadership development,and/or DEI 101.While we will be encouraging
in-person sessions,we will also offer hybrid and virtual opportunities for greater accessibility.
This program will improve experiences for minority,historically marginalized,and
disproportionately disadvantaged communities by fostering inclusive cultures,challenging
systemic inequalities,and promoting awareness and understanding among all members of the
organization.The program will take a comprehensive approach that recognizes and addresses
the unique challenges faced by these communities while working towards creating
environments where everyone feels valued and included.This in turn will lead to decreased
microaggressions,enhancing the psychological safety of BIPOC and LGBTQ+staff and clients.
Psychological safety,both in the workplace and the community,is paramount for fostering an
environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts,ideas,and concerns
without fear of reprisal or judgment.Ultimately,psychological safety lays the foundation for
resilient and thriving workplaces and communities,where individuals can freely express
themselves and contribute to the betterment of the collective whole.