Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

United Way of York County, SC, fights for greater opportunity for all and supports equality and freedom within our diverse community. York County’s history, from the Catawba Indian Nation dating back 6,000 years, to the Friendship 9 “Jail, No Bail” movement, is rich in diversity and the pursuit of equality. In honoring that history, United Way of York County is committed to providing services and assistance to the York County community that support a safe and healthy home for all.

The present-day reality in the United States is that bias based on race/ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, and ALL other identities impacted by systemic, institutional, and historical barriers have created lasting inequities and pose ongoing barriers to enabling everyone to live the “good life.” United Way of York County, SC, recognizes that improving lives in the communities we serve means we must explicitly focus on removing these barriers for ALL community members, especially those whose voices have traditionally been marginalized.

This pursuit includes addressing systems, policies, practices, belief systems, and attitudes that have served to privilege some and disenfranchise others. Only through an intentional focus on removing barriers can we aspire to create the conditions that allow everyone the opportunity to thrive.

United Way of York County believes that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We must call out discrimination and demand its removal from our society; otherwise, we endorse the status quo and remain complicit in the abuses that follow.

We believe that community challenges are sustainably solved when all groups come together. We work with residents and public and private partners to co-create solutions to ensure everyone has the resources, supports, opportunities, and networks they need to thrive. We stand in solidarity with community members and other organizations addressing disparities across our nation—and affirm our commitment to building an inclusive and equitable community in York County.

We unequivocally denounce racism/ethnic discrimination because it undermines the well-being and vitality of our communities. We work consistently and intentionally to pursue equity by:

• Leveraging an Equity Taskforce of community experts to provide the strategies, best practices, and success measures to create more equitable communities.
• Committing to becoming more diverse, inclusive, and equitable as an organization.
• Partnering with and funding organizations that align with our racial equity values.
• Utilizing data to ensure we impact communities of color and marginalized communities.
• Equipping the UWYC staff, Board, and community partners with the skills and knowledge to inform and build equitable approaches to work and life.

To advance all of these goals, we must have courageous, open dialogue and hold one another accountable for continuous progress. We must all do our part, working United, to make our community the place that we need it to be – equitable, respectful, and opportunity-filled.

We, as a society, have a responsibility to protect the basic human rights and freedoms of people everywhere regardless of status, privilege, or lack thereof.