DEI Vertical

In November 2024, CNVC's Board of Directors recently created a "DEI Vertical", which will be a new governing body to support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging across all domains in the Center for Nonviolent Communication.

The DEI Vertical is structured as a circle, and because its focus applies “vertically” (spanning the entire organization), it has been named accordingly. Its key activities will include:

1. Affecting change in governing bodies (policies and activities), through

• Writing organization-wide DEI goals and policies for the Board of Directors to determine how to integrate
• Advice-process, feedback, consulting and collaborating on existing and new policies and activities 

2. Engaging the larger community with a focus on building a sense of belonging, connection and community specifically around the divisions we experience.

3. Programming for governing bodies (people/awareness) to deepen DEI and systemic awareness for our organization's Staff, governing body members, Executive Director, and Board of Directors.

Please note also that unlike the Board of Directors, Assessors Coordinating Circle, and Programs Resource Circle, DEI Vertical is not an elected body but an appointed body, and in the first 1.5 years of its term, it will be held under the Board of Directors and Executive Director. After that, in the spirit of concrete movement towards shared power and partnership, DEI Vertical will report to the newly-formed Coordinating Circle (starting January 2025).

We want to acknowledge that this has been a long time coming and reflects years of love and dedication from countless individuals in our organization. We also want to specifically acknowledge that the DEI Vertical has emerged from the meaning we have collectively sought to make through the challenges and conflicts within the Board space. We are humbled to have been part of this creation and bring it to completion.

Sincerely,

Manasi Saxena, Board President 2024