Environment & Diversity Project
Why We Need Diversity
Recent interviews with cultural groups found that there is a desire to participate in environmental programming, that a concern about the environment and quality of life exists, and that often times, there is a knowledge base and a different kind of environmental hero that ENGOs just aren’t tapping into. Read the report on
The Accessibility Project
(Earth Day Canada 2009)
The Diversity Initiative
(Clean Air Foundation2009)
However, most environmental NGOs (ENGOs) today have very little diversity and don’t reflect or authentically engage the communities they serve. This disconnect is most apparent in Ontario where over half of Canada's visible minorities live and where 1 in 5 of the country's Aboriginal peoples live; yet ENGOs continue to ask themselves why they keep “preaching to the converted."
Organizations realize that if they want to make a difference, they need to start responding to the nuances, needs and wants of the communities they want to engage in their work. Many organizations are genuinely interested in becoming more diverse and inclusive - they just don’t know how to go about it.
The Environment & Diversity Project strategically addresses this challenge by providing customized, ongoing coaching, training and resources to help ENGOs set realistic diversity goals and embark on an organizational change process that includes embracing diversity at the board, staff and volunteer levels as well as through accessible communications and programming.
The project brings a diversity of voices to the forefront, helping to bridge the gap in understanding between ENGOs and cultural groups and promotes a two-way dialogue where learning between ENGOs and cultural groups is mutually beneficial.
The Sustainability Network is proud to offer the Environment & Diversity Project with funding support from:
