51Æ·²è is committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels welcome. Over the past few years, OC employees have worked together, often in collaboration with students and community partners, to lead initiatives that support respect, mutual understanding and a sense of belonging.
Existing groups have focused on anti-racism, through activities such as developing Anti-Racism pages, resources and reporting pathways for the OC website, and on inclusion for 2sLGBTQQIA+ members of our community, for example, by representing OC at regional Pride events and supporting student-led Pride events on campus.
These efforts – and those we haven’t even imagined yet – could not be possible without the energy and commitment of our employees. For those of you already involved, a big thank you for all the work you do.
We know there is always more to do. Existing groups are looking for new members, and there is space to form new groups to focus on other aspects of belonging, inclusion and accessibility. There are lots of ways to help make OC a place where everyone belongs and everyone is empowered to succeed.
The experiences of our employees matter to us, and getting involved in these initiatives is a great way to build the OC community into one that feels like home for you. If you want to connect with an existing group, or if you have other initiatives you’d like to get started, email edisj@okanagan.bc.ca.
We all have a role to play in our journey to transformative inclusion … what’s yours?