Roadmap to a Better Future
We acknowledge that our organization has not always been inclusive, equitable, or diverse in the ways we envision for the future.
As we all journey on the trail of life, we wish to acknowledge the spiritual and physical connection the Pennacook, Abenaki, and Wabanaki Peoples have maintained to N’dakinna (homeland) and the aki (land), nebi (water), olakwika (flora), and awaasak (fauna) where our work takes place today. We also acknowledge the hardships they continue to endure after the loss of unceded homelands and champion our responsibility to foster relationships and opportunities that strengthen the well-being of the Indigenous People who carry forward the traditions of their ancestors. (Univ. of New Hampshire)
Embracing DEIJA at NH Sea Grant
NH Sea Grant’s mission is grounded in service to the people of New Hampshire, and to meet this mission we need to recognize, confront, and assume our responsibility in addressing the systemic biases and privilege that have shaped us, and that we have sustained. As an organization, we are working intentionally to educate ourselves, hold space for difficult conversations, and take action to address diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) in our program. NH Sea Grant has a role to play in combatting structural, societal, and environmental injustices, and we will hold ourselves accountable to this necessary and critical work now and for months and years to come.
In order to strengthen NH Sea Grant’s ability to learn about, appreciate, and implement greater DEIJA principles through our work, we are taking steps to build a more culturally competent organization by:
- Educating ourselves in collaboration with our colleagues, partners, volunteers, and constituents by listening, sharing and learning
- Working with experts to help us move our organization from awareness to accountability and action
- Acknowledging the roles of history, legacy, and geography
- Integrating DEIJA considerations into our organizational planning, implementation, reporting and communications
- Reaching out more broadly in recruiting and hiring, proposal solicitation and reviews, project design and program advising
