Start here

By Dr. LaDrina Wilson / Board member and Equity and Inclusion Committee chair
CEO, Iman Consulting  

In my work as a leadership and diversity consultant across the Quad Cities, I see more organizations stepping up every day to make commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s heartening to know that the leaders of our region’s nonprofits and businesses are recognizing the central role equitable opportunity must play in the future of our community. Yet for all their earnest desire to advance these issues within their spheres of influence, I also see that they don’t always know where to begin.

That’s OK. Often, this uncertainty and hesitation stems from an acknowledgment that we don’t have the expertise or the lived experience to confidently act in a way that will resonate with those we hope to reach. It’s an acknowledgment, too, that this work is important and challenging. We don’t want to fail when getting it right matters.

Know this: you don’t have to go it alone. There are resources in our community that can help equip you with the knowledge, perspectives, and relationships you need to carry out your commitment.

The Quad Cities Community Foundation is one of those resources. From my vantage point as a board member and chair of our Equity and Inclusion Committee, I see the Community Foundation aspiring to show up in this space well beyond its traditional roles. The Community Foundation has already proven itself to be a convener on topics critical to the direction of our region, from disaster response to affordable housing, and it will be no different with diversity, equity, and inclusion, which is deeply embedded in every topic critical to the direction of our region.

We are making an intentional effort to get out in the community to understand unmet needs and opportunities, to strengthen relationships and build new ones, and to elevate and amplify the voices of those who serve and represent marginalized groups. Our team is laying that groundwork so that community leaders, donors, and any other Quad Citizen who is ready to act on the commitment they’ve made to a more inclusive and equitable region have a place they can turn to spark new connections and make a meaningful difference. If you’re looking for a place to begin, start here. We can help you connect to the topic, issue, or community members you most want to get to know and impact.

Like other organizations, the Community Foundation is following through on our own commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We’ve made a meaningful start, one that will help build the foundation for this work to continue over the long term. And that’s where our community needs to set our sights, even as we collectively take our first steps. To make an impact, a true commitment must be sustained. In the dynamic realm of equity and inclusion, that sustained commitment must also be continuously evolving, open to discomfort, ready for growth.

That’s why I hope you won’t wait to take your own next step, whatever that is—because we have no time to waste in breaking the cycle that keeps periods of heightened awareness, like the one we’re in now, from becoming actual catalysts for change. As you strive to be part of that change, just remember that this work is about progress, not perfection. It’s about presence, and the Community Foundation is present where we are so you can be present where you need to be.