The Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities is committed to anti-racist practices. We see this commitment as vital to effectively advancing our mission of strengthening the local economy, protecting the environment, and building community. We believe that resilient communities are places built by people of diverse experiences who come together in welcoming, respectful ways. 

Northern Michigan is home to communities of people from different racial, ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Groundwork believes that our best work can be accomplished when we acknowledge, appreciate, and leverage the unique experiences and perspectives of community members and partners to achieve innovative solutions. We strive to maintain high standards of ethics, transparency, collaboration, and accountability by embracing honesty and our humanity at all times.

We know we cannot do this work alone. We value and prioritize collaborative partnerships designed to engage those who are unfairly impacted by the effects of systemic racism and inequity. Specifically, we are committed to developing projects with and to serve the interests of people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and our neighbors in the region living in poverty, or with disability. We expect our staff, Board of Directors, members, and partner organizations to engage these different groups directly. We have built DEI efforts into our organizational strategies, and are committed to investing time and resources in this work.

Have you heard our indigenous speaker luncheon series? Explore this six-part video series in which members of northern Michigan tribes share insight on culture, law, food and more. READ