Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging - August 9, 2024

What Is DEI?

by Chef Nina Rakotoarisoa, GHBC Executive Chef and Jeanne Hobbs, DEI Committee Chair and HRIS and Benefits Manager

At Goodwin Living, we recognize the importance of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) in creating an environment where everyone can thrive. DEI is not just a set of principles, but rather a fundamental approach to building a respectful and engaging environment for everyone.

Diversity encompasses the range of differences among people, including race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities and cultural backgrounds. At Goodwin Living, we celebrate these differences as they enrich our community and enhance our perspectives.

Equality ensures that everyone has access to the same opportunities and is treated equally. Have you seen the weekly emails advertising open positions at Goodwin Living? These emails are part of our efforts to ensure all team members have equal opportunity to grow in their careers at Goodwin Living!

Inclusion at Goodwin Living means fostering an environment where everyone feels valued and heard. It aligns with our core values, promoting a sense of belonging at Goodwin Living.

Belonging is the ultimate goal of any DEI work; it is the heart of that work. Belonging is about more than just being included—it is about being an integral part of the community. When team members feel a sense of belonging, they are more likely to be committed, innovative and collaborative. At Goodwin Living, we strive to cultivate a sense of belonging by listening to every voice and valuing the contributions people make.

Creating a sense of welcome and belonging is a Goodwin Living value. People spend nearly 25% of their adult lives at work. That means their time at work has a significant influence on people’s wellbeing, life satisfaction, and physical and mental health. According to the Mayo Clinic, “When we feel we have support and are not alone, we are more resilient…decreasing the physical and mental effects of [challenging] situations.”

When employees feel a sense of belonging at work, employers see improvements in attracting and retaining staff, reducing absenteeism, increasing engagement, creativity loyalty, and producing higher-quality work outcomes. Research has found that employees who experience a high level of workplace belonging are shown to have a greater willingness to recommend a job in the organization and a longer length of service.

Introducing a New Name

The DEI committee was formed on July 15, 2020 to help Goodwin Living in its efforts to be a place where everyone feels they belong. This sense of belonging not only improves morale but also drives innovation and collaboration. The committee feels now is the perfect time to introduce its new name: the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee.

In addition to adding “Belonging” to our committee name, we are changing the “E” in DEIB to Equity. While we want to treat everyone equally, we recognize that not everyone has the same opportunities or abilities to reach those opportunities. By focusing on EQUITY, we strive to ensure that everyone has the resources they need for their success.

In the images to the right, you can see three individuals looking over a fence at a ball game. In the left-side image, all three have the same opportunity to view the game (in this case, each person has a box of equal size).

However, the box isn’t equally helpful for all three individuals.The tall man can see the game clearly. The young girl can barely see over the top of the fence. The person in the wheelchair can’t see the game at all—they can’t even use the box. They each have the same opportunity—the same size of box to stand on—but all of them cannot watch the game.

But as you see with the right-hand image, by providing more assistance to those who need it (the stacked boxes for the little girl and the ramp for the person in the wheelchair), everyone can enjoy the game.

Our commitment to DEIB is demonstrated through ongoing initiatives such as "Friday Thoughts,” where team members, residents and Goodwin Living At Home members learn, discuss and reflect on important DEIB concepts. These articles help foster a culture of continuous education and improvement.

In 2023, we started the “Lunch and Learn” series, with team members gathering to share information about their cultural culinary traditions. In 2024, we continued this effort with a similar series called “Shared Experiences,” again with the goal of learning more about our co-workers’ cultural traditions.

The first Shared Experiences event centered on Ramadan. During this event, we not only learned important facts about Ramadan, but heard how our co-workers and their families honor this special time in their lives. There were many in attendance who said, “Wow, I didn’t know that!” In June, we learned about the origins and meanings of our fellow team members’ names. In August, we will open a discussion on “Coming to America”.

Later this year, the DEIB committee looks forward to sharing experiences and celebrating diverse cultures through events such as Native American Heritage Month. These activities will provide platforms for storytelling, learning and gaining mutual respect, further embedding belonging into the culture of Goodwin Living.

In all these activities, we EMPOWER each other to learn (EDUCATE), and, in doing so, we EMBRACE inclusion and belonging. We invite all members of the Goodwin Living community to actively participate in the Shared Experiences, special training sessions and other activities the DEIB committee brings forward. Please read our Friday Thoughts and start discussion groups with others to delve deeper into the subject matter. Bring questions and comments to the committee. By doing so, we can collectively build a more inclusive, equitable and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best and experience a sense of belonging.
Please join us in making Goodwin Living a place where diversity is celebrated, equity is pursued and inclusion is a lived experience. Together, we can make a difference and create a true sense of belonging for everyone.

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Goodwin Living DEI Committee: Statement of Purpose: Educate, Embrace and Empower team members, residents, members* and all served by Goodwin Living to support Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.

Goodwin Living DEI Committee Desired Outcome: The Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee (DEI) will seek open and honest communication and collaboration that will inform and celebrate the age, culture, ethnicity and sexual orientation of team members, residents, members* and all served by Goodwin Living without bias.

*Members include Priority Club members and Goodwin Living at Home.

Questions or comments? Please contact us DEI@GoodwinLiving.org