Diversity And Inclusion
The United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike (UWLWC) plays a unique role in the community as a leader in the health and human services sector. We firmly believe that to successfully carry out our organizational vision and mission, UWLWC must be committed to diversity.
We understand that UWLWC is strong as an organization and central to our community because of the respect, dignity and value we give to all individuals; and because we aspire to involve people from all segments of our community in every aspect of our work. Our intent is to create and sustain an environment that encourages all individuals to reach their fullest potential in a positive and productive manner.
UWLWC shall recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate, terminate and provide terms, conditions and privileges of employment solely on the basis of personnel requirements and individual personal qualification and abilities. UWLWC shall recruit Board Members in the same fashion. UWLWC does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, gender, age (40 or over), disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation/preference, veteran, citizenship or military status, provided they are qualified and meet the mental and physical requirements for the job.
The nominating committee of the Board, in nominating persons for the Board of Directors, shall make every effort to see that the Board is at all times representative of the community and includes individuals with the understanding and appreciation of the social and welfare needs and resources of our geographic area and representative of the diversity of our citizenry.
UWLWC staff members, volunteers or representatives are held accountable for promoting and fostering diversity, inclusiveness and equal opportunity for all stakeholders. By their actions, we ensure our organizational priorities and decision-making processes are the best they can be.
UWLWC’s commitment is clearly stated in the following guidelines:
Value, champion and embrace diversity and inclusiveness in all aspects of UWLWC activities
Respect others without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or other characteristic, including those protected by law
Treat people with dignity, respect and compassion
Foster a trusting work environment which supports and promotes equal opportunity; and which is free of harassment, intimidation and unlawful discrimination.
In summary, diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is an essential element to the success of our organization. We are committed to ensuring our actions conform to the spirit and intent of our strongly held values of inclusiveness, equal opportunity, dignity and respect for all.
Voted and approved – May 24, 2012
EQUITY STATEMENT
For over a century, equity has been the foundation of our work at the United Way of Lackawanna, Wayne & Pike. Through our engagement with donors, our investment of community resources, and our interactions with the public, we are committed to fostering a thriving and inclusive community where all individuals have the opportunity to succeed.
We define equity as the presence of justice and fairness in our policies, practices, and recourse distribution. We firmly oppose discrimination in all forms and embrace equity as a core value that drives our mission of connecting people, resources and organizations to build a stronger community.
We are dedicated to ensuring that opportunities and resources are accessible to all, with a focus on creating pathways that empower individuals and communities to reach their fullest potential. Our United Way is committed to promoting fair leadership by engaging community members from all backgrounds in decision-making and leadership roles within our organization and beyond. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone has the chance to participate and make an impact.
We believe that building a more just and equitable community requires continuous learning, collaboration and a steadfast commitment to inclusion in our organizational culture, values and partnerships.
Together, we can create a future where everyone has the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
Anti-Racism Statement
We acknowledge that racism can be unconscious or unintentional, and that identifying racism as an issue does not automatically mean those involved in the act are racist or intended the negative impact. As an anti-racism organization we vow to purposefully identify, discuss and challenge issues of race and color and the impact(s) they have on our community, its systems, and its people. We will also challenge ourselves to understand and correct any inequities we may discover and gain a better understanding of ourselves and those we serve.
We are resolved to explicitly and publicly affirm our identity as an anti-racist organization and unequivocally denounce racism/ethnic discrimination as it undermines the well-being and vitality of our community.
We are resolved that our anti-racism commitment be reflected in the life and culture of each department through our policies, programs and practices as we continue to learn about and continue to address racism.
We resolved to work with residents and public and private partners to co-create solutions that ensure everyone has the resources, supports, opportunities and networks they need to thrive.
United Way and Organized Labor
Working Together to Fight For Our Community
During the past year, the United Way’s Department of Labor Participation continued successful partnerships with the Lackawanna and Pocono Workforce Investment Boards. The Department also continued its work with the Northeast Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center to promote manufacturing in our region, retain jobs and create new employment opportunities for displaced workers.
The Department continues to be an integral part of the Commonwealth’s Rapid Response Team—meeting immediately with over 300 displaced workers to quickly help them access important services during unemployment, including the distribution of an informational “Services for the Unemployed” brochure, available through the rapid response team, online and at the CareerLink of Lackawanna County.
The Department is pleased to continually support the Letter Carrier Branch’s successful Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive to help fill the shelves of area food pantries and supported our local veterans through the Agency for Community EmPOWERment of NEPA (ACES) of the creation of a Veteran’s Resource Council to help our nation’s veterans here at home.
