DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

As an agency we commit to using our voice and platform to fight against injustice. While we may not have the solution to change the world, we do have the power, resources, and heart to change ourselves and our community.

With this commitment and urgency in mind, we are taking the following steps to bring about equality, civility and justice for all:

Listen with our Hearts – Valley Youth House will provide opportunities for youth, families and staff to openly discuss how the issues of racism and discrimination have impacted them personally.  By providing Safe Spaces for people to share, we will build understanding and compassion for each other as a foundation for our continued work.

Plan with our Heads – Valley Youth House staff will work with youth and community leaders to develop an annual strategy to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion both within our agency as well as in our local communities.  We will share these plans publicly and hold ourselves accountable to improve the climate and reality within our agency and our respective communities.

Speak Up with our Voices – We are committed to making Valley Youth House an actively anti-racist organization. This means we will actively speak out and address acts of racism, racist comments, and racist practices, policies and procedures. We know that racism and injustice disproportionately impacts many of the youth that we serve, and we will advocate for them with our public officials and the general public.

RECENT STEPS TOWARDS GOALS:

1) Staff & Board Forum held in response to the death of George Floyd

2) Youth Forum held in response to the death of George Floyd

3) VYH Employee Climate Survey facilitated by 501 Commons, results shared with all staff and Boards, and corresponding three-part review and discussion Town Halls

4) Observance of Juneteenth 2020

5) Winds of Change Response Project in collaboration with VYH Wellness Committee & Art@ Program

6) Removal of the word “Chief” from employee titles

7) Formalization of employee and client affinity groups related to DEI

8) Creation of MLK Observance Guide 2021 for youth, staff, and community

9) Hired new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer

STAFF ADVISOR

Shawn Mack
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Valley Youth House
Pronouns: he/him/his

smack@valleyyouthhouse.org

STAFF ON COMMITTEE

Tom Harrington
President & Executive Director
Valley Youth House
Pronouns: he/him/his

Elizabeth Allen
Staff Development, Supervisor
Valley Youth House
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Megan Alnutt
Executive Assistant to the President
Valley Youth House
Pronouns: she/her/hers

Reek Bell
Office Manager & Assistant to VP of Philadelphia
Valley Youth House
Pronouns: they/them/theirs

Kylin Camburn
Case Manager at Project Silk Lehigh Valley
Valley Youth House
Pronouns: she/her or they/them