During the 2020 protests in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, many companies rushed to implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and declared their commitment to addressing systemic racism. Those of us who have spent years advocating for marginalized communities suddenly found ourselves inundated with requests to deliver DEI workshops for organizations eager to “make a statement” to employees and investors, signaling their alignment with this sea change. At The HERD Institute, we collaborated with industry allies to host workshops and webinars emphasizing the importance of making “More than a statement”. While some organizational statements were made with genuine intent and supported by strategic initiatives and calls to action, many were transparently performative.
Now, the tide has turned. In an era of escalating political tensions, the core principles that shape DEI policies are under attack. Somehow, the intention to create an equitable society for all is being touted as injustice itself. The rise of anti-DEI legislation places organizations and institutions that remain committed to DEI policies in precarious positions. Educators, mental health practitioners, and any organization that champions DEI now face lawsuits, funding restrictions, or political scrutiny and accusations of ideological enforcement.
All those organizations that performatively implemented DEI policies in 2020 are now withdrawing them. Make no mistake, abandoning DEI initiatives is not a neutral act. It provides a clear statement of individual and organizational values and priorities. While disappointing, it’s also unsurprising – and quite frankly, I’d rather folks be honest about what they believe than to pretend to offer “a safe space” when there is none. DEI initiatives, if not communicated effectively, can trigger resistance within organizations. Employees who perceive these policies as performative or exclusionary may disengage, leading to workplace tension. In some cases, DEI is co-opted as a marketing tool rather than a genuine effort toward systemic change, which dilutes its impact and invites criticism from both advocates and detractors. My immediate concerns though are for individuals and organizations who do believe in the core values behind DEI policies, but who are now feeling too threatened to uphold them. The paradox is clear: in a time when DEI is most needed, it is also most vulnerable.
For those of you who are feeling threatened and impacted by anti-DEI policies, please know that you are not alone. We know that the cost of abandoning DEI policies is too great when lives are at stake. Remember that social justice movements have always faced opposition, and progress has only been achieved through persistence and resistance. Homogeneous spaces reinforce echo chambers, limiting creative and adaptive thinking. Diversity is essential in fostering empathy and novel problem solving. Ethical leadership demands that we act not out of familiarity and convenience but out of principle. To dismantle inequities, we must be willing to endure discomfort, conflict, and resistance. Historically, every major civil rights advancement has been met with backlash and this is no different. The turbulence we face now is not a sign of DEI’s failure but of its continued importance.
The HERD Institute remains steadfast in our commitment to fostering inclusion in all communities. We reject the anti-woke definition of DEI as indoctrination and reverse discrimination. We believe that the polarized zeitgeist is harmful for all. In the context of equine facilitated work, many of us work with vulnerable and marginalized populations, so what does being against diversity, equity, and inclusion even mean? If the opposite of diversity, equity, and inclusion is uniformity, disparity, and exclusion – values which are antithetical to the way that we work with horses and humans – does it mean that you are against welcoming people from all walks of life? Or that you are against the commitment to treat folks fairly in your programs? Are you looking to exclude certain groups from your services? And, if your cultural, religious, or political values and beliefs lead you to declare that you are against diversity, equity, and inclusion, I urge you to consider how that translates into the services you offer. How does that impact the emotional safety of those seeking help from you?
Social justice activism is not a trend. It is a transformative process that challenges our most ingrained narratives. It cannot only be something “out there” that other people engage in – it needs to be based on individual and collective actions. We cannot claim to be “a safe space” for others if we’re not engaged in co-creating that safety. It’s not up to me to say what’s safe for someone else. I can only commit to actively doing my part as a contribution to collective safety – much like how our horses maintain safety in a herd. There is no true progress without resistance, and that comes with risks. But, now is not the time to retreat. Instead, we need to refine, recommit, and resist.
If you are interested in joining The HERD Institute, please know that we are firmly committed to creating a space where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We want all people to feel valued regardless of race, ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, physical ability, or cultural identity. We know that in order to create such a space, we must actively and consistently do the work around dismantling systems that continue to oppress those who have historically been under-represented. More specifically, we stand in solidarity with those who serve alongside us doing this work, including our faculty, staff, students, and graduates. As part of joining The HERD Institute®, you will be asked to sign The HERD Institute® Commitment of Belonging and encouraged to think critically about how you can actively, and continuously, make “More than a statement” towards our collective sense of belonging and safety. Our aim is to maintain a community for those who want to strive for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world. If this sounds like you, then please join us in action.