The DEI conundrum

Or, at least, one piece of it.

There’s a reason, I promise.

Let me be clear: I’m not a DEI expert. Far from it.

I’m a white, queer, non-binary, probably neurodivergent human. I went to schools with Names (on scholarship and loans). I have a house (purchased and sustained with help from my phenomenal mother, who worked her ass off so that I could have more than she did.) I am very lucky. Privileged, one might say.

I also struggle to pay my bills every month. This week, for example, I have approximately $50 to buy groceries with, so that’s cool. And again, I’m still lucky. Privileged, even. I know that some of my coworkers don’t even have that $50.

I work for a non profit that provides vital, if controversial, services. Due to our location*, we are a relatively homogeneous group of people, at least racially speaking. Our diversity tends toward socioeconomic, neurodivergence, gender identity, sexual orientation. Also due to our location, there is not an excess of funds, and the distribution of those funds outside of basic operating costs causes a fair amount of distress, especially amongst those of us on the lower end of the pay scale.

We’ve struggled, as an organization, to reconcile our core value of caring for all people with the insistence that “caring for all people” doesn’t include making sure our whole staff can at…