It brings us great pleasure to present VHA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Report for 2021.

VHA’s Anti-Black Racism Action Group launched its first VHA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey in summer 2021. Staff and service providers as well as volunteers and Board members were asked to respond to statements in a number of key areas, providing feedback and key demographic data which has informed the development of VHA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan for 2022. Last year, VHA held its first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Townhall. During this townhall, the Anti-Black Racism Action Group reported the findings from the DEI survey to staff and service providers and received feedback from the group. This feedback was incorporated into the findings and has been transformed into the DEI report.

Please click here to view VHA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report for 2021 (Download PDF).

In this report, you will find what we did, which includes a summary of the work of the Anti-Black Racism Action Group.  More specifically, this includes the accomplishments of the four subgroups that were formed to address issues of Anti-Black Racism: in Advocacy, Data Collection and Reporting,  Education and Training and Policy and Communication.

You will also find what we learned from the survey, including key demographics data and important feedback informing VHA of what areas of diversity, equity and inclusion VHA is excelling in, and which areas need more work.

Finally, this report will share VHA’s 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Action Plan.  The action plan contains key elements that have informed the plan, and also outlines the 10 goals of VHA’s 2022 DEI Action Plan. And now our work for 2022 begins.