The WellLife DEI Committee Recognizes and Honors Diversity in Our Agency

Our DEI Committee has been hard at work putting together new policies and work plans for our agency to be the best we can be in treating everyone in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive manner. As part of that work, they have prepared a statement for WellLife Network to share in regard to this important recognition of a big part of our country’s history.

Black history is American history. From slavery to the Civil War, to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, the collective struggles and triumphs of the black community is truly awe-inspiring. In honor of Black History Month, WellLife Network celebrates the progress that has been made in fostering a society that believes people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. But we also reflect on just how fragile this progress is, and how every inch of ground that was fought for can slip away without vigilance.

We are seeing this play out in real time. Talking about race and racism in America is becoming increasingly politicized. But this should not be a controversial or political issue. We should not try to erase the sins of our past by ignoring their existence. Instead, we should have the hard conversations that push the needle of progress forward and ensure that the American ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are accessible for everyone.

Democracy is indeed fragile and to grow we must understand and accept where we started as a nation and where we want to be, now and in the future. We must acknowledge that injustices exists and honor those who overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to fight for a more fair and equitable society.