Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

Last year we celebrated the League’s 100 years of volunteer work supporting democracy by expanding voting rights and educating voters on issues. At the same time, we recognized that, along with other American institutions, we have a checkered past when it comes to race relations.

In 2021, the League of Women Voters of Baltimore City engaged with the League of Women Voters U.S. initiative on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and with the other Maryland local leagues that have been involved in this process for changing not only the demographic of their membership but also their management. Here is the U.S. policy, which is reflected in the Bylaws change.

LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization's current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policymakers in creating a more perfect democracy.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, language, accents, ability status, mental health educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and or any other characteristic that can be identified and recognized or illustrating diversity.

Our DEI Advocacy Efforts:

• Participate in LWV-MD DEI Education Sub-Committee
• Establish and facilitate opportunities to further the understanding of history and current events that affect diversity in America.
• Develop curriculum for Black history not currently taught in school systems
• Study impact of changes in civics curriculum
• Develop new approaches for curriculum such as cases studies, Zoom, etc. for topics such as constitutional history and the rebellion against England.
• Offer service-learning hours to high school students engaged in diversity activities.