Why does diversity, equity, and inclusion still matter? At this All Call with Jasmin Robinson (Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives with The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and MSM Global Consulting), attendees answered for themselves:
More animals finding homes. Keeping animals in their homes. Better meeting the needs of the community, not just what we think the needs are. Better understanding of cultural perspectives of pet ownership. Better engagement with multiple communities. Diversity in problem-solving. More interesting conversations. Closer teams. Trust-building within communities. Healthier and happier communities. Expanding community.
Nationally, we’re experiencing a difficult period of pushback that threatens this collective vision and our shared values, Jasmin acknowledged, even as the 2024 State of DEI in Animal Welfare Report shows we’ve started to make progress in our field. We can reject attacks aimed at reversing civil rights gains and freedom from discrimination, and choose to respond in ways that bring us closer to each other and the reality we want to see.
“The more we are aware of what diversity, equity, inclusion is—and I would love to emphasize equity—the better that we can be in terms of recognizing, assessing, and addressing needs in particular areas [of our organizations and communities],” Jasmin emphasized. It’s not only key to attracting and retaining talented teams, but also building a stronger coalition of animal well-being partners and advocates, and fostering innovative solutions to the issues that affect pets and the people who care for them.
Those are goals worth fighting for—for animals, our communities, and ourselves. Watch Jasmin’s presentation for concrete steps we can each take at the individual, interpersonal, and organizational levels to leverage DEI in animal well-being, plus real-talk advice on meeting this moment without burning out.
What we mean when we talk about DEI
- Diversity: Welcoming people with different backgrounds and embracing our differences, whether related to race, age, gender, where someone comes from, who they love, physical ability, or other aspects of identity.
- Equity: Ensuring fair treatment and access to opportunities—recognizing that racism, sexism, ableism, xenophobia, and other intersecting forms of oppression continue to give some people advantages while holding others back and harming all of us. Equity means understanding how these unfair systems impact us, our workplaces, and communities and working to level the playing field so everyone can thrive.
- Inclusion: Creating a culture where everyone feels like they belong—where people of all backgrounds are represented, heard, and respected.