A Community with a Vision and Purpose - Join us!
As the Membership & Strategy Manager at the RIDC, I spend a great deal of time thinking about the origins of our organization—what it meant to join in this work in 2020 and how our members and partnerships have evolved since then. Our work is multifaceted and is affected by the shifting landscapes in and beyond our industry. We are mindful that we often hold the space for conversations, reflections, and accountability that call for change, enable progress, and promote shared responsibility in this industry. But we don’t live in a bubble, and the discussions, attacks, and general noise around DEI are getting louder and threaten to encourage complacency and undermine this work.
As a staff, on our board, and with our partners we often ask: how do we protect DEI work? The working definitions and scope of DEI work are vast, and approaches are ever-changing. And with increasing debates and intentional misinformation about DEI across all sectors of business, academia, and society, I fear we are often asking the wrong questions. We reduce the conversation down to making a business case or debating its merits—should we keep it or should we get rid of it?—almost to the point that we forget why DEI work exists. It was created out of necessity, as an integral part of the civil rights movement, in response to human experiences that reflected an inequitable society.
Instead what if we ask questions such as: What does it mean to be doing this work in the first place? Why choose to engage with people and communities underserved in this industry and sport? And, perhaps most importantly, what does it mean to be doing intersectional work alongside BIPOC communities? There is a real risk in viewing DEI work in ayes or no framework. The systemic issues that harm BIPOC communities will persist whether or not DEI work is altered in name or policy. The only change will be that the people in our historically disenfranchised communities will be left to fight alone.
The RIDC membership has grown because we are focused on the experiences of the people in the communities we serve. Anyone can be a member of the RIDC. Joining us in this mission-driven work means joining a community that supports our vision for a running industry that celebrates diversity, champions equity, and ensures inclusion for everyone. Our RIDC member community is supported by our industry partners who have joined in our strategic efforts to transform running. Becoming a partner of the RIDC means wholeheartedly committing to change in one’s organizations and spheres of influence. Our partners are integral to the success of our work.
We always say we hold a shared responsibility in this work and the progress we can collectively leverage. This work is not easy, but it is purposeful.How does our work together feed your purpose?Whether you are a current or future RIDC partner, now is the time to flip these DEI conversations on their head and, instead, reflect for yourself, your company, and in your communities these questions. Encourage the intersectionality of DEI work, an evolution that marches along with the human experience. Our organization was started from human experiences. And yes—this work requires partnerships and support. But for us ourwhyis so clear—it’s the people. Join us!
In partnership,
Betsy Rathwell,
RIDC Membership & Strategy Manager