Muddy Paws Rescue’s DEI Journey Update
Dear Muddy Paws family,
One year ago, Muddy Paws Rescue made a public commitment to get uncomfortable in our privilege, ask the hard questions, unlearn our inherent biases and be part of the movement toward a more diverse and inclusive animal welfare society. We recognize that 12 months of perceived silence on our end as it relates to our changes seems like a long time, but it was important that we had something of substance to share. This is not a flash-in-the-pan moment in time for us, and it will take much longer than a year to make lasting and meaningful changes.
It is also important to note that while this effort began at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, it has grown beyond that. Diversity, equity and inclusion is about much more than skin color. It is about identifying all of the underrepresented communities that deserve a seat at the table. It is about examining all the ways that we, as human beings, are unique, and integrating those differences into our organizational goals and hiring practices. It is also about knowing that we don’t have all the answers, that we’ll make mistakes, and that we will always be learning.
Over the past year, we have...
Added the option to select personal pronouns on our volunteer application/records
Consciously selected photos for our public-facing and internal materials that represent every corner of our community
Engaged in conversations with the broader animal welfare industry around DEI topics through staff participation in national conferences including HSUS Expo and Best Friends Animal Society Conference
Created a channel in our Slack workspace for Spanish-speaking volunteers who are able to comfortably communicate with and support our Spanish-speaking adopters
Established an all-staff PTO day for Juneteenth, while giving staff additional time off to participate in DEI-related activities of their choosing
Begun the process of translating our general marketing materials and FAQs to be available in both English and Spanish
In addition, we continue to...
Research and broaden the places where we post job opportunities to diversify our applicants
Actively search for a BIPOC Board representative with relevant experience to fill an existing seat
Seek input on the direction and implementation of new campaigns and initiatives from diverse stakeholders
Be conscious of our language and phrases, eliminating verbiage with controversial and/or offensive origins
Muddy Paws Rescue has always prided itself on being positive, welcoming, responsive and supportive – and that will never change. We have been working hard to make sure that everyone recognizes these core values extend to anyone and everyone who wants to help us build and support a thriving community of dog-loving humans.
Please know that we will never be “complete” in our efforts to become more inclusive - there is always room for improvement. We will continue to be proactive - to ask questions, research, learn, reflect and grow. We will continue to be a safe space for those who wish to offer feedback on how we can continue to be better in all aspects of our work, and we want to hear from you.
Thank you for being part of our growth, and believing that our Muddy Paws Pack can make a difference.
Sincerely,
Rachael Ziering
Founding Executive Director
