Reflections on the Equity Challenge 2025

By Charis McGrady

I took part in the Association of Junior Leagues International’s (AJLI) 10 Day Equity Challenge this February. For those who don’t know what an equity challenge is – it is an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and communities.

At AJLI and in our own Junior League of Annapolis Inc. (JLA), diversity is a core value, emphasizing the importance of creating and sustaining a diverse membership to support our Mission. This means prioritizing equity, inclusion, and belonging in all our interactions, both within our organizations and in our communities.

To me personally – I care passionately about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB).  It’s the reason I am the co-chair of JLA’s DEIB committee. These 10 days came at a time when DEI policy at the Federal level is shifting and is sparking tough conversations across various sectors and in society. It was a welcoming environment to discuss the impact of this policy landscape.

Over the 10 days, through daily AJLI curated resources, excellent speakers and engaging discussions, I was able to explore the pervasive nature of racial inequities, penetrating our communities at individual, institutional, and systemic levels.  We examined how inequities show up in race, sexuality, gender and for those who see and experience the world differently. We looked at how to foster a sense of belonging in our leagues and communities. And how to have those tough conversations with grace and an open mind.

It was humbling and heartbreaking to hear some women’s stories, to learn from them, and be given an opportunity to share some of my own experiences.

It’s clear to me that learning about the problems and the solutions is an ongoing journey, extending far beyond a single day, week, or even year. Continual education and engagement with strategies for achieving equity are crucial.   Achieving equitable outcomes necessitates a shift in how we discuss members of our community, spotlighting their aspirations rather than their challenges.

Part of living in a community is having an appreciation of others’ similarities and differences. We build our sense of belonging and respect for others when we find shared interests and understand our disagreements. Despite our differences, we all deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. These differences are also what enrich our lives. Forming relationships with people who are different from us allows us to be more understanding of others, provides us opportunities for new experiences like trying a new food, and exposes us to new ideas and ways of doing things.

Before we build a sense of belonging, we need to be inclusive. Inclusion is a value and practice of ensuring that people feel they belong and that their input is valued by the whole (group, organization, society, system, etc.), particularly regarding decisions that affect their lives. This practice should include authentically bringing traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities and decision/policymaking in a way that shares power to ensure that their needs are considered. Inclusive spaces are those that foster a sense of belonging, respect and dignity for everyone. Inclusion means, “I built this with you in mind. Let’s continue to build it together.”

A sense of belonging goes beyond inclusion and is important for many reasons. Dr. Abraham Maslow, a social psychologist, ranks “belonging’ third on his Hierarchy of Needs. It’s innate to want to belong and to be part of something bigger than us with shared values, beliefs and goals. The region of the brain where we crave food is also where we crave connection. The part of the brain where we experience physical pain is also where we experience social exclusion. Research shows that our sense of belonging and well-being are inextricably linked.

However, just joining a group or organization doesn’t equate to belonging. The foundation for belonging is being seen, accepted, and supported by others and doing the same for them. When we have a sense of belonging, we can be our authentic self. We must go beyond including people at the table, we must amplify everyone’s voices, remove barriers and appreciate each other for our unique backgrounds. As we create this sense of belonging, hopefully, we will better understand our differences too.

As we learn to appreciate our differences and be more understanding, it can also teach us empathy. Empathy can help us build strong relationships and improve our overall well-being. Even with empathy, we may face times where we need to have a courageous conversation.”

The JLA Committee this year produced a DEIB checklist to help our members ensure we are as inclusive as possible in our events and activities in the community.  If you haven’t seen this, ask your Committee Chairs or email deib@jlannapolis.org  As a Committee, we are exploring DEIB  training opportunities that we can bring to our members. Keep your eyes on Member Essentials for offerings, and if you want to be more involved in our DEIB work JLA members are welcome to join our Committee meetings every third Tuesday of the month.

I cannot take you through all of the resources or learning that was packed into the 10 days. This blog would be far too long – it already is! But I will share five resources/takeaways that I found impactful:

1. Read this HuffPost article on Explaining White Privileged to a broke white person by Gina Corcoran
2. Learn how the combination of institutional racism and white supremacy created America’s racial wealth gap, in this video, How America Created its Shameful Wealth Gap.
3. Five tips for being an ally
4. Choose when to fight a DEIB battle – there is no persuading some – preserve your own peace and pick where you can make a difference.
5. DEI = “Definitely Earned It” ♥️

Completing the Challenge does not make you a DEIB expert and should not be seen as just a box to check off your list. But it gives you a brave space to explore these issues without judgment and time to reflect individually on what your next steps are to make our world, our League, our community a more equitable place where everyone feels like they belong. I would highly recommend the Equity Challenge 2026 to anyone!