OUR DEI JOURNEY
Our Commitment to Belonging, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (BEDI)
At Community Partners in Action (CPA) we are proud of our BEDI (Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) culture and are committed to building upon and maintaining an inclusive, equitable workplace honoring every individual ensuring they feel they belong regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, nationality, age, religion, gender/nonbinary identity and or expression, transgender status, sexual orientation, religion or disability.
We are equally compelled to have a constructive impact on criminal justice reform in CT that ends racial inequities and ensures the humanity and dignity of those interacting with the system.
CPA’s commitment to ensuring our participants, the right to an adequate standard of living including food, clothing, and housing; the right to physical and mental health services; the right to a healthy environment and the right to education has never wavered since our incorporation in 1875. The equality we fight for on behalf of our participants extends to our dedicated staff as well.
CPA has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform in a system disproportionately impacting people of color. While it took the agency until the 1960s and 70s to begin transforming to a diverse staff and board that reflects the people in our programs, we have more work to do. We will continue to examine ourselves through an antiracist lens to make a significant and lasting impact on our staff and the people we serve.
Our BEDI commitment includes continuing to:
- Examine our culture, objectives, and practices to eliminate any unconscious bias or discrimination in our beliefs, rules, and systems;
- Pinpoint our blind spots and learn to navigate difficult conversations;
- Build an environment of inclusivity;
- Ensure fair treatment and equal opportunities for all;
- Refrain from any conduct that discriminates, harasses, or exhibits discriminatory behavior towards anyone at CPA.