Commitment to Inclusivity

By Troy Zeigler

Each of us who work within the Catholic Charities Network has a responsibility to
exercise our leadership skills in the advancement of diversity and inclusion.
Catholic Charities USA has committed to this issue through its publication of Poverty
and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good (2008), the annual Keep the
Dream Alive Mass and Awards started in 2009, and the National Board Committee
for the Advancement of Racial Equality (CARE), established in 2007, which later
evolved into the Racial Equality and the Diversity (REDI) Professional Interest
Section in 2009. While this national level emphasis is important in the work that we
do, it is meaningless without follow-up at the grassroots level. Therefore, we call on
all our Catholic Charities employees and volunteers to take advantage of the
resources provided and ensure proper emphasis in your local charities and
surrounding community.

It is appropriate to address the issue of leadership at this time because of the CCUSA
Leadership Institute, held May 4-10 in Los Altos, California. This weeklong event
focuses on strengthening both the knowledge and skills of participants in a variety
of key leadership qualities. This is the thirtieth anniversary of the Institute, which
has demonstrated its value by the number of major Catholic Charities leaders that
are among its graduates. Each year, the REDI program provides three scholarships
for this event to individuals who are from historically underrepresented
backgrounds. It is our hope that this will enhance the quality of diverse leadership
within our Network.

While there is no doubt that progress has been made, we cannot ignore the
numbers of our underrepresented population that remain in poverty. When we
look at those who serve in our network, and those and are served by our network,
this discrepancy becomes increasingly clear. It is obvious that diversity is much
broader than race and gender, extending to religion, culture, disabilities, and age.
This leads to a need to focus on inclusivity, and providing a place for all at the table,
providing all with opportunity to participate and grow. Therefore, it is incumbent
that we not only ensure that all who come to our agencies are welcome, but to strive
continually in our work locally to create broader acceptance and inclusion of those
we serve into the mainstream of our communities. This ensures the opportunity for
all to share in the potential inherent within our American society!