Revisiting your DEI Statement

In the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020 and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, many business and organizations adopted Diversity statements to show their solidarity with the grass roots movement advocating for change and also as a promise the enact change within.

As the year comes to a close, it may be the time to ask, have we kept that promise?

Organizations should periodically re-examine their Diversity Statements and policies to ensure they meet their goals. DEI Statements inform policy and provide guidance, so they will evolve with the company while being a compass that always points towards equity.

A DEI Statement can vary widely, but they usually include some or all of the following:

• A statement of the company’s mission
  
• An explanation of how DEI connects to that mission
  
• A call-out to specific underrepresented groups
  
• High-level examples of DEI efforts

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A best practice when writing your organization's DEI statement is to make it specific to your company, rather than generic and abstract. Use a strong headline, positive language, and include specific examples of how the organization meets the goals stated in its mission.

Tips and examples of good DEI Statements

At its core, a Diversity Statement is supposed to inspire action and create a sense of community within your organization. If your bookstore's DEI statement was originally adopted from a template, or modeled on another store or organization, it is worth taking another look at it and making it something that truly represents your store and your values.