DEI STATEMENT
The Eight Cooperative Principles that guide our daily work are rooted in equity. Principle One, “Voluntary, Open Ownership,” means that we are open to all without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination. Principle Seven, “Concern For The Community,” leads us to work for the sustainable development of our communities. Principle Eight, "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion," guides us to reflect our employees, customers, partners, and suppliers as well as the communities we serve.
UPDATES
Last updated: 4.23.24
Work Group Project Updates
In the first quarter of 2024, the Owner & Community Engagement workgroup completed the following projects:
- We began to investigate the feasibility of adding assistive devices to help customers with low vision to more easily navigate through our store.
- We reviewed our most-viewed webpages to see where we could improve the text with more inclusive language and better communicate about our DEI efforts. Text will be updated when we launch our upgraded website this summer.
- We received a request to offer classes where masks are required and have scheduled our first such class for this summer; more will be scheduled based on requests we receive.
Here’s what the Retail & Supply Chain Strategy Workgroup has been focused on through the first quarter of 2024:
- Promotional planning for Inclusive Trade:
- Continued implementation of existing Inclusive Trade promotion.
- Determining next steps to continue to expand impact and recognition of Inclusive Trade.
- Assessing resources and potential partnerships to create support for new businesses.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, the Employee Engagement workgroup accomplished three workgroup meetings. Those workgroup meetings supported involvement in seven planned staff events. In addition we carefully reviewed employee retention rates which are trending up over time and are above our industry’s average. Step Up: Equity Matters held a forward-planning workshop and our workgroup has drafted a plan for calendar year 2024. We also collected feedback from staff, managers, and stakeholders in an effort to further focus our future efforts.
Eighth Cooperative Principle Added
We announced in our March newsletter that we've added an Eighth Cooperative Principle: "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion." The International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) outlines seven cooperative principles by which cooperatives put their values into practice. The ICA is considering adopting the eighth principle listed below; we and many other co-ops have already chosen to adopt it.
MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER
August 16, 2023
We partnered with Step Up: Equity Matters in 2020 to help us change the culture at the Co-op to become a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization to work and shop.
This summer we implemented an Inclusive Environment Policy that takes into account much of what we have learned on our DEI journey over the last few years.
Since 2020, we have deepened our knowledge and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion and elevated its role in our policies and procedures. We have evaluated the programs and services we offer and revised them to work towards being more inclusive and accessible to everyone, not just some.
We haven’t always gotten it right. I know that some people still don’t feel welcome to work, shop, or sell products in our stores. We will have and will continue to learn from these experiences and use them to improve.
In January 2022, we established three DEI workgroups with a focus on employees, retail and supply chain, and Owners and community to positively influence and change how we do business. We currently provide all staff with bias and microaggression training via an online format to allow individuals space for personal reflection on DEI while building a framework to support change within the organization.
As we look to the future, we will expand and deepen our commitment through continued policy review and revision; strengthening our relationships within the community; and finding more ways to remove barriers for our employees, customers, vendors, so our neighborhoods can thrive.
We are passionate about making everyone who works and shops here feel welcome and respected. To be a place where everyone feels they belong, are valued, and are connected is my personal vision for the Co-op.
--Anya Firszt, General Manager, Willy Street Co-op
DEI Strategic Goals & Objectives
We will be developing the work plans for the numbered objectives below in calendar year 2022 for implementation in later 2022 and into 2023. Check out DEI Dashboard for metrics related to these goals and objectives.
Owner & Community Engagement
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Our customers reflect the demographics of the communities we serve
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The Co-op is a place where our community participates and is proud to shop
Retail & Supply Chain Strategy
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Increased focus on DEI in the Co-op’s vendor pool
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Product mix that is aligned with our brand/identity while reflecting the communities we serve
Employee Engagement & Development
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Our employees reflect the demographics of the communities we serve
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Become an employer of choice through a culture of acceptance, inclusion, and respect.
OUR PROCESS
As reported in the August 2020 GM Report in the Co-op newsletter, the Reader.
In July 2020, Willy Street Co-op partnered with Step Up: Equity Matters, a local consulting firm that will work to provide us a framework for positive change to further our ongoing commitment to identifying and eliminating systemic racism in the workplace.
Step Up will work with Willy Street Co-op staff and the Board to build equity capabilities by:
Results of Assessment Phase
Executive summary as reported in the May 2021 GM Report in the Co-op newsletter, the Reader.
In April/May 2020, Step Up concluded their scheduled assessment of the Co-op’s leadership, culture, and initiatives. Step Up collected input through various avenues, including an online challenge, employee climate survey, interviews and focus groups with staff, managers, and the Board. The assessment provided Step Up with perspective about our overall strengths and opportunities while understanding the challenges to achieving the results of a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization.
The Board President, Jeannine Bindl, and I have reviewed the Step Up full assessment, and we commit to implementing the recommendations and next steps as suggested. The conclusions and main points of the executive summary:
“Based on our findings, we conclude that the Co-op must address and improve internal culture, communication channels and content, and talent management practices to set a strong foundation to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse talent base.”
We will work together to address the most pressing needs Step Up has identified through their assessment by:
GET INVOLVED
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Interested in running for a seat on our Board of Directors? Find out information about our Board here.