DEI & Ministry

Black History Month is a great time of acknowledgement, reflection, and celebration. Since 1926, when Carter G. Woodson, a Black Historian and Scholar encouraged a weeklong celebration, many in our nation and beyond have been highlighting the Black experience in these very ways. We take time to acknowledge the contributions of Black people. The true list of inventions would take much longer than 28 days to acknowledge. A few major ones that we utilize daily and have had worldwide impact include the modern toilet, the traffic lights, the home security system, automatic elevator doors, and the gas heating furnace. Even…

It is very important for me to foster a culture of inclusion in the workplace to ensure that everyone feels safe, seen, valued, and heard. And while there have been strides to include MOST people, one group often remains omitted from the process. That group is Justice Involved Individuals. For several years, I have worked to bring attention to the initiatives that ensure equity in employment opportunities for this forgotten segment of society. It is my ultimate desire to encourage more employers to embrace the idea of extending second chances to qualified Justice Involved Individuals whenever possible. In 2020, I…

I’m bi-racial. Born to a white mother and a Black father; something that initially rocked the white family that I grew up with. See, my father hasn’t been in the picture since I was around one year old, so my childhood wasn’t split between the two. I grew up entirely with my white family. In very white spaces. A black sheep, standing out from the flock. My childhood was great for the most part and I never recall yearning to know my father or meet my other family, but as I’ve gotten older, especially in the last few years I’ve…

The men, women, and families who walk through the doors of Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana for the first time seeking help often think there is no hope left for them.  The staff who welcome these men and women to VOA programs do so with arms wide open – ready to help carry their burdens, lighten their load, and remind them that there is always hope. They are people with a passion for uplifting others to help them rebuild their lives.  Khamisi Jordan is one of those passionate people.  Khamisi is a Community Case Manager at one of our VOA Veterans Resource Centers and if you know him personally,…

hen asked to participate in the DE&I effort here at Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana, I was honored, yet felt a significant responsibility to represent the Retail team. This committee is vitally important for our current and future team members, as well as our customers, in a very diverse and sometimes emotional dialogue around access, opportunity, and inclusion for all. We have an incredible opportunity to ensure our organization, our retail store team members, and leaders represent the communities in which we do business and extend our mission efforts. I want to be part of this DE&I team that…