SEI holds a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are listening, learning, and taking action. We recognize that systemic injustices pose barriers to equal access to quality education, livable wages, and a safe and healthy environment; and we are committed to identifying and working to remove systems of oppression in all aspects of our work.
We envision a sustainable world where all communities thrive. Our goal is to model, promote, and celebrate diversity and inclusion in our operations and programs.
We envision a sustainable world where all communities thrive. Our goal is to model, promote, and celebrate diversity and inclusion in our operations and programs.
What Does Equity Have to Do With the Environment?
Decades of research show that people of color are disproportionately exposed to and impacted by environmental hazards like air pollution, toxic waste, contaminated water, and sea level rise. Environmental justice is inextricably linked to racial justice, and is only achieved when we have empowered, diverse, and representative leaders and workforces.
Taking Action
We are committed to the long-term transformation required to achieve a just and equitable world. Some of the actions we plan to take in the immediate future and have taken already are outlined below and in our annual Impact Report.
Within Our Organization
In Our Work
Within Our Organization
- Fostering a culture of listening so that we may more deeply understand the needs of the individuals and communities we serve.
- This year, SEI has partnered with Soil and Shadow, a DEI consulting agency with 17 years of experience working at the intersection of social equity, ecological regeneration, and economic justice, to support the ongoing assessing, monitoring, and prioritizing of DEI initiatives and support within the organization.
- We were honored to welcome Richa Poudyal to share about Climate Justice and the Just Transition Framework by Movement Generation. This workshop sparked many conversations about how to apply this framework to SEI.
- Looking critically at our hiring practices in order to build a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.
- This year, we furthered equitable hiring practices with more structured interview processes, updates to job postings, interviewer tutorials, a comprehensive compensation review, and transitioning to an Advanced Applicant Tracking system to reduce administrative and applicant wait time.
- Formalizing a policy on diversity, equity, and inclusion so these may be woven into all aspects of our work, every day.
- Creating fundraising opportunities, such as our End-of-Year Equity campaign, centering internal project-based work to advance equity.
- Launching in early 2025, SEI will participate in a comprehensive three-year Working Toward Racial Equity program, in partnership with Lawrence Hall of Science and Justice Outside.
In Our Work
- Growing and nurturing long-term partnerships in frontline communities -- those most vulnerable to climate change and disproportionate environmental burdens due to systemic racism.
- Including voices of marginalized communities, particularly people of color, in programmatic planning and decision-making.
- Offering education and workforce development that empower diverse and representational leadership in environmental career pathways.
- Developing community and project-based environmental justice learning opportunities throughout our curriculum offerings in the K-12 and higher education spaces.
- Holding our partners accountable for also upholding the values of racial equity and justice.
We’re Learning
We humbly acknowledge that we have a lot to learn. If you’d like to share resources, have your ideas heard, or take action together, please get in touch.
