The Ragon Institute is committed to creating and sustaining a workplace that values and embraces all aspects of diversity. To this end, the Ragon is embarking on an important initiative to build upon the strong foundation of the 2020 REDIT (Ragon Equity Diversity Inclusion Taskforce) Plan to reorganize and create clearer ownership and accountability. The revised plan outlines specific steps to address inequalities at the Ragon, contribute to broader community efforts aligned with our equity goals, and create opportunities for those who encounter barriers to scientific and academic success because of their gender, gender identity, race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, parental status, or sexuality.
As a first step in supporting the advancement of the REDIT Plan, we have reorganized the previously outlined set of initiatives into a broader framework containing four overarching goals. This enhanced structure will allow the Ragon to align the tactics included in the REDIT Plan to specific administrative departments and/or committees thereby creating clearer accountability that isn’t dependent on any one individual. The revised plan also explicitly defines the concepts of allyship and accessibility along with diversity, equity, and inclusion, in the hopes that the plan can help members of our community can find ways to use their personal privilege to support colleagues from historically marginalized communities (allyship) and provide avenues for equitable access to everyone along the continuum of human ability and experience (accessibility).
As we continue to build the internal structures to organize and drive action around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, we will also be creating opportunities for feedback and collaboration across the organization. We look forward to continuing and building upon the work the REDIT Committee started.