DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION 

VISION:

The Ruth Collective envisions that every person that is involved with The Ruth Collective feels seen, heard and acknowledged and is empowered by our organization as their authentic selves.
 

MISSION: 

The Ruth Collective advocates to prioritize anti-racism, anti-oppression, justice, and healing at The Ruth Collective by acknowledging the inequities and trauma that exist both in our internal work community and in each of our broader communities. The Ruth Collective provides input on how to create a staff, board and volunteer team that reflects all those we serve so that impacted communities feel their voices and lived experiences are considered in decision making.
 

VALUES: 

We strive to continuously improve our practice to not inadvertently perpetuate harm that we know is caused by the inability to access reproductive healthcare.

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We know that  women of color, as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, are disproportionately disadvantaged in states where reproductive or gender-affirming healthcare has been banned  or heavily restricted, and are less likely to encounter healthcare workers, service providers, and other supports who share their race or ethnicity.  We know that young people who cannot access healthcare often face significant barriers due to factors like financial limitations, lack of transportation, stigma surrounding abortion, and limited access to information, which can lead to delays in seeking care, potential unsafe practices.  These barriers cause significant negative impacts on their education and future life plans, and has been shown that they experience a higher than average rate of suicide and substance abuse.  Challenges like these are particularly pronounced for those from marginalized communities.  These are just a few of the many complex issues we must take into consideration.

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We are committed to strengthening our relationships and building partnerships with people, organizations, and businesses who reflect the diverse identities and cultures of the women we serve. We believe bringing more unique, diverse voices to the table to influence our policies and practices will help us provide better advocacy and support and arrive at better outcomes. 

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OUR VALUES, IN ALL LEVELS OF OUR WORK, INCLUDE:

• Accountability and transparency

• Integrity and commitment

• Equity and equality

• Awareness and sensitivity to differences and biases

• Kindness, trust, mutual respect and responsiveness

• Intentional and proactive inclusivity

• Prioritization of the impact of actions over the intention behind them

• Amplification of impacted voices, seeking care and healing

• Creation of safe spaces for everyone who comes in contact with our organization

• Evolution through continual work and action towards anti-racism

• Evaluation and assessment of ongoing progress