JEDI

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KODA Camp Midwest is committed to undertaking social justice initiatives to ensure KODA Camp Midwest is just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive. 

JEDI

Justice

Justice is the deliberate practice of dismantling structures and systems that maintain historical and current inequities. This requires the continuous and proactive critique of current policies, practices, power structures, cultural messages, and social norms with intent to achieve and sustain equity for all diverse identities. 

Justice aspiration: 

KODA Camp Midwest will pursue justice in each of its decisions and policies by centering voices of those who are harmed, marginalized, and/or unjustly treated, ensuring individuals and power structures/systems within the organization that have harmed take accountability and make reparations with those they have harmed and to the community itself. KODA Camp Midwest will investigate complaints of injustice seriously and with integrity, ensuring that the boundaries and wishes of the complainant(s) are respected as much as possible. KODA Camp Midwest will critically examine its own structures and practices proactively, particularly when a new structure or practice is established and whenever injustice occurs, and dismantle the structures and practices that led to injustice. 

Equity

Equity recognizes that we do not all start from the same place and acknowledges and addresses historical and current imbalances. 

Equity aspiration:  

KODA Camp Midwest will pursue equity in each of its decisions and policies by proactively and critically examining each ongoing structure and proposed change for any potential implicit biases that led to the structure or change’s perpetuation or creation. Rather than treating everyone within or associated with the organization as if they have the same needs and societal privileges, KODA Camp Midwest will consider everyone’s unique background and identity and how those differing circumstances between individuals may impact their behavior and what needs they have. KODA Camp Midwest will acknowledge that certain identities and backgrounds (particularly intersectional identities) are treated unjustly and inequitably in different systemic ways by society, originating from historical power hierarchies that continue to affect our culture today. KODA Camp Midwest will ensure that those unjust societal norms and power hierarchies do not replicate themselves within the organization. Members of the KODA Camp Midwest organization will analyze and acknowledge the societal privileges they hold and how those privileges paint their perspectives and will empower those holding marginalized identities within the organization. 

Diversity 

Representation of all the characteristics that make up human differences, including but not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, class, physical and mental ability, religion, political belief, national origin, and other social identities represented in a space, community, institution, or society. 

Diversity aspiration: 

KODA Camp Midwest will pursue diversity in each of its decisions and policies by ensuring individuals embodying a wide variety of identities, circumstances, positions held in society, and mindsets have equitable representation in our community. KODA Camp Midwest will appreciate the invaluable richness that such diversity brings to everyone within the community and will encourage connections and sharing of perspectives among those within our diverse community. KODA Camp Midwest will proactively seek out opportunities to diversify those represented within the organization and community. 

Inclusion 

Ensuring differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard, and every individual, especially those who have been historically excluded because of their identities, feels a sense of belonging. 

Inclusion aspiration: 

KODA Camp Midwest will pursue inclusion in each of its decisions and policies by understanding and fostering an environment that embodies that differences among community members are to be welcomed and celebrated, rather than simply “tolerated”. KODA Camp Midwest will proactively examine policies and practices for inclusivity and whether there are implicit biases within them that are exclusive of a certain group, with particular attention given towards identities and members of communities that are historically marginalized in society. KODA Camp Midwest will listen to the perspectives and wishes of those who hold marginalized identities as to how they would feel most celebrated within our community and will enact those wishes to the best of its ability, acknowledging that individuals understand their own identities best and deserve to have their preferences respected and centered in discussions around inclusive practices.