Driving change for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Upper Valley nonprofit sector
In order to make the Upper Valley a better and more equitable place to live for all residents, the Upper Valley Equity Exchange (UVEX) will enable the region’s white-led nonprofit organizations to engage our community in ways that are more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive. The scope is multi-faceted and intersectional, including race, class, gender, LGBTQA, and ability, among others.
The project will be guided by a Community Advisory Group (CAG) consisting of members of traditionally marginalized groups including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, class, recovery, and educational diversity. The CAG will oversee:
- The selection of the participating organizations committed to creating these action plans and committing to join in being accountable for their work.
- The recruitment and selection of the consultants: only BIPOC-owned and –led consultancies will be considered.
This one-year pilot program is intended to be a model for building capacity in the nonprofit sector to work with a racial/intersectional equity lens. The goal is specific, tangible, concrete action plans to address internal operations, board culture and governance, and program implementation in the selected organizations. These action plans will be informed by a multi-session orientation to systemic and institutional racism and best practices for institutional change.
While Vital Communities is facilitating the implementation of UVEX, we are not subject experts nor are we a model for this work. We recognize that Vital Communities is an institution that needs to learn and change fundamentally. We must integrate the feedback we’ve received, listen for more and act on what we learn. We hope to share this journey with other nonprofits.
Program duration: Fall 2022 through Spring 2023
About the Community Advisory Group
- The Community Advisory Group (CAG) will consist of five to seven people from the Upper Valley representing traditionally marginalized populations and identities, including at least race, class, education level, age, gender, and sexual orientation. Given the demographics of the region and the issues described above, educational and class diversity will be prioritized, with an emphasis on emerging voices rather than on established leaders to ensure authentic representation.
- Vital Communities staff will work with consultants and partners whose work and networks will help us engage individuals who, as a group, meet the criteria above.
- Gathered CAG members also will determine who is not yet represented and how we might invite them into the group.
- Members of the CAG will be compensated at a professional consultant hourly rate
- The CAG’s primary responsibilities will be to:
- Determine the process and selection criteria of the 4-6 nonprofit organizations to participate in the UVEX pilot in the Fall of 2022
- Determine the process and selection criteria for the consultants who will run the learning sessions and action-planning sessions (these may be two different consultants)
- Review the first cohort’s action plans
- Participate in evaluating the program with an eye towards improving the model for the future
- For this pilot year, the CAG’s power is advisory. If consensus can’t be reached, the final decisions will be made by the Vital Communities’ Executive Director. We expect that in the future, the CAG will become a fully independent Steering Committee with final say on participating organizations and consultants.
Selection of the Nonprofits
The application process and selection criteria will be determined by the CAG in coordination with Vital Communities staff and will be clearly articulated. The process will include:
- Announcement of program and the application process
- Determination of the rubric by which applications will be evaluated
- Suggested criteria for the composition of each organization’s participating leadership team
- An application form that includes at least the following information: the organization’s desire to engage in this work, their experience working with traditionally marginalized populations, the anticipated/desired impact on the organization.
Selection of the Consultants
The Request for Proposals (RFP) process for consultants and criteria for selecting them will be determined by the CAG in coordination with Vital Communities staff and will be clearly articulated.
- The CAG, in coordination with Vital Communities staff, will determine the rubric by which consultants’ proposals will be evaluated
- The RFP will include:
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- Emphasis on expertise on racial/intersectional equity and on organizational development. Successful applications can include either or both sets of skills and experience.
- Requirement that consultants articulate the desired outcome of this cohort with a few high-level bullet points defining success.
If you have questions or comments about UVEX, please contact Rob Schultz at rob@vitalcommunities.org
