Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Toolkit - Checklist

Event/Project:

  • Who’s missing? Consider the people who attended the event in the past and/or look at the volunteers who are currently working with you. Are they mostly the same or is there diversity in terms of age, gender and race?  Does the group include moms, dads, students, teachers, and folks in a wide range of occupations? Does it include folks from all over Multnomah County or just from one or two neighborhoods?

  • Have you included diversity on the agenda or incorporated it into the event planning?  Diversity doesn’t create and maintain itself. If you agree that it’s important, include it in the planning process and add it as an agenda discussion topic.  

  • Are we offering something that appeals to a broader community? If not, are we willing to make changes to the type of event being planned? Adding variety to our programs and events can attract a more diverse community.  

  • Are there any barriers that prevent people from attending the event? Barriers come in many forms, from the more apparent physical barriers (no wheelchair access) to language barriers. Even the time and location of an event can make it difficult or impossible for folks to attend. There are also emotional barriers - will new members feel safe or out of place,  welcome or unwelcome? While we can’t necessarily eliminate all barriers, identifying them and understanding their impact is an important first step. 

  • Location, Location, Location. Have you considered changing the location of the event or perhaps rotating the location of your meetings? Changing locations can be a very effective way to diversify. (Beginning in 2010, Rutgers Cooperative Extension started alternating their master gardener training between the suburbs and Ne

  • wark, and increased student diversity by over 20%.)

Community Partners:

  • Look for other community organizations to partner with. Collaborating with another organization can be a simple way to expand membership, broaden our audience, and possibly minimize expenses.  

Outreach:

  • In order to reach a wider audience, we should consider what methods we are using to contact people. Are we advertising in the right places? Are we using neighborhood newspapers, social media, and other forums that will reach communities throughout Multnomah County?  Are we posting flyers in community centers and libraries throughout the entire county or just where we’ve always posted them in the past? If we’re collaborating with a community partner, they can support the promotion through their newsletter and social media where relevant. (See DEI Resource List)

Welcome/Retention:

  • We are a community organization, not a club, and it’s important that we go out of our way to make attendees and new members feel welcome and valued. It’s helpful to have volunteers assigned to greet people. Pay special attention to people who are new to the event as they may be outside their comfort zone.  Find out what people are interested in and try putting them in touch with other MGs with similar interests and/or expertise. Ask what works for them - did the plant sale have products they were interested in buying? do they enjoy working on the committee they’ve joined? do they have some particular expertise or interests that they’d like to share? Be open, listen closely, repeat back, think creatively, act.