Jumpstart envisions a day when every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. At the heart of this vision is a belief in educational equity and a commitment to valuing the dignity of every person. We recognize that in order to accomplish our mission, we must address systemic injustices, especially racial, ethnic and socio-economic, that contribute to substantial opportunity gaps for children of color and children from underserved communities. The opportunity to create a more inclusive and equitable environment by embracing and mirroring from within our organization the vibrant diversity in the communities we serve will enhance our collective experience and increase our ability to deliver on our mission.
We believe that our organization should reflect the values and principles inherent in our vision and mission, and that we should be a model of opportunity and equity. We aim to build and nurture a diverse and inclusive organization; we are committed to creating an environment that nurtures unique perspectives, facilitates authentic dialogue, and honors the identities of its community members to enhance our ability to close the kindergarten readiness gap.
Jumpstart Definitions: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
EQUITY
Just as we seek educational equity for the children served by Jumpstart, so, too, do we aim to ensure equally high outcomes for all Jumpstart employees, removing the predictability of success or failure that currently correlate with any social or cultural factor. Our systems, structures, and supports must ensure that career advancement is equally accessible for all, and accountability is implemented fairly. Both inside and outside of our organization, we commit to interrupting inequitable practices, especially racism, and to removing barriers that prevent us from achieving our mission, including addressing actions not aligned with our expectations around diversity and inclusion.[1]
DIVERSITY
We value the differences represented by all Jumpstart staff members that continually shape, inform, and inspire our work across the country to unleash the potential of every child. The wide range of identities embodied in the Jumpstart family, including race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender, gender identities, ability, beliefs, and professional and general life experiences are essential to our collective success. Our effectiveness in achieving our mission depends on our ability to recruit, support, and sustain a network of staff, volunteers, board members, and allies that truly represent the uniqueness and complexities of the communities and world in which we live and work.
INCLUSION
At Jumpstart we thrive as an organization because all people are valued, respected, and supported. We embrace a culture where we actively seek to learn about each other, expect open-mindedness and vulnerability, promote constructive conflict, value new perspectives, recognize and eliminate exclusion, and avoid assumptions or judgmental attitudes. We expect a workplace where our defining experiences, identities, and perspectives are voiced with authenticity; where rich, informing, and constructive dialogue is the norm; a place where our daily experiences are enriched and our work is improved because of what we give and gain from one another. We recognize and celebrate the diversity among us; we work to increase awareness of our unconscious biases; and we strive to build authentic relationships in order to share and learn from our unique perspectives.
