The Board of Directors at Empower Simcoe is happy to announce the launch of its new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council (EDIAC), comprised of employees, community stakeholders and the people and families supported by Empower Simcoe.
“The Board of Directors of Empower Simcoe is pleased to see the creation and implementation of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council in support of our efforts to look at how we can expand our capacity to serve in more positive ways” says Empower Simcoe President Deborah Wall-Armstrong.
The Empower Simcoe Board of Directors and the agency’s Senior Leadership team are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive culture where every employee feels valued and respected.
EDIAC was identified as a priority goal in Empower Simcoe’s Strategic Plan: Building the Capacity to Serve, to provide advice, comments and recommendations on issues affecting diversity at Empower Simcoe and to facilitate opportunities to educate and celebrate the different aspects of diverse cultures and traditions through outreach activities within the community.
The Empower Simcoe Board of Directors and the agency’s Senior Leadership team are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive culture where every employee feels valued and respected.
It is a snapshot of the actions taken and results achieved by the OHRC to build on its foundations through collaboration with vulnerable groups, other stakeholders, and duty-holders, as well as its work to be accountable to the public, and to create a more inclusive society for Ontarians.
I have an Indigenous heritage. My knowledge of the medicine wheel teachings, the four sacred medicines, traditional drumming songs and crafts, for example, will make a difference in the lives of our employees, as it has for the lives of the families who attend the EarlyON Child and Family Centres in Simcoe County.
I want to help others achieve their goals in life. As an Indigenous person, I know I have good opinions on equity and diversity that I want to share. If you don’t speak up, you won’t have people know who you are. It’s important for Empower Simcoe to be a diverse and inclusive leader so we can continue to encourage people to be, belong and thrive in our community.
Joining Empower Simcoe’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council gives me the opportunity to share my experience working with diversity and inclusion, and do my part to influence positive change. As a member of a minority group I feel an obligation to support initiatives that increase opportunities and equity for marginalized communities.
Natasha Brown – Empower Simcoe Housing Access Worker
I became a member of Empower Simcoe’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council to provide awareness, inclusion, a safe work place for everyone to thrive, and to start the conversation and effect change. It’s important for me to take an active role, to provide input and insight from my life’s experiences, which in turn, allows me to have a unique perspective.
I believe there’s so much growth to be had when we include other peoples’ points of view and differences. Our community and our organizations can be so much richer in seeing different perspectives. If we would just listen to each other and understand how each person receives love, then our community and country would be such a better place.
Desiree McKenzie – Empower Simcoe Accommodations Support Worker
I’m privileged to be a voice through the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council for all employees and the people we support of differing backgrounds. We want everyone to feel welcome and feel that they belong at Empower Simcoe. It’s about learning about each other as we continue to grow as a fully diverse organization.
As a retired Resource Teacher, I wanted to give back to Empower Simcoe. I strongly believe that everyone should have a voice and that we need to recognize the quieter, softer and marginalized individuals. I feel I can represent the voices of the people and families I used to support and people with hidden disabilities.
Empower Simcoe employees are pleased to present this mosaic of the many flags representative of our agency’s diverse ancestry and heritage.
The flags represented are: Albania, Anishinaabe First Nations People, Cameroon, Canada, China, Croatia, Denmark, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Métis Nation, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, U.S.A., Uganda and Wales.
With our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace for all Empower Simcoe employees and volunteers, we look forward to further growing this flag mosaic. Look for updates soon.
Angelia Brooks – Empower Simcoe EarlyON Indigenous Coordinator
