Why was Diversity Inclusion Values Action Started?
Diversity Inclusion Values Action is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Salt Lake City, Utah focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. D.I.V.A. was created to bring all identities together in a safe, but brave space, to have those important conversations and ask those questions that have been stigmatized by society. With Utah’s majority White population, there are not many spaces and places where multiple diverse perspectives are brought to the table. D.I.V.A. is all about calling people in and never calling people out. As an organization, D.I.V.A. believes in bringing every perspective to the table, whether they are used to having conversations about inclusion or not, because that is how we come to the most true human understanding. Audience participation is a huge emphasis for D.I.V.A. There is always a question and answer section at the end of every conversation. It is time for us all to start acknowledging our unconscious biases, that every person experiences life differently than how we do, and that our world is not always accepting of people’s identities. As a society, we have kept these topics out of our homes and mainstream media; but, our Earth is becoming more diverse every year and we can no longer ignore the human experiences that exist. Join D.I.V.A.’s conversations to expand on knowledge and experiences not taught to us in our K-12 curriculum, and to become a part of a change that will impact and make a difference for future generations.