WNYIL's new Chief Organizational Equity Officer will set policy and ensure diversity, inclusion

Independent Perspective #1625

Guest:  Renae Kimble

Topic:  WNYIL's new Chief Organizational Equity Officer will set policy and ensure diversity, inclusion

Duration:  05:42

Published:  December 1, 2020

Host:  Welcome to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today is Renae Kimble, Chief Organizational Equity Officer of Western New York Independent Living, and your host is yours truly, Ernie Churchwell. Welcome to the program, Renae.

Guest:  Thank you so much.

Host:  We're pleased to have you. Some people will be surprised if they know that Western New York Independent Living has a track record of being very widely accepting of people of a variety of backgrounds disabilities, personal choices and whatnot. And the question, obviously is, why do we need an equity officer?

Guest:  Well, a lot happened this past summer, we had protests throughout the country. Many individuals became very aware of different racial inequities that have been embedded in different systems. COVID-19 exposed a lot of health care inequities that happened with Black American people. And so, different organizations have just reacted and responded by saying that they need to do something in order to make sure that everyone has access to the same opportunities, and that individuals who might have different disadvantages, they will be able to be given an opportunity to advance in their company. So that's why many companies are now searching for equity officers, and there are many companies who are having their first equity officer because it's important that you have an equity officer because we want to make sure that even though, Western New York Independent Living has that track record. But there are still areas in which organizations can improve, they want to make sure that there is a commitment to diversity, there's the commitment to inclusion, and that there are so many social, economic, and marginalized groups who really want to be able to advance and achieve. And a lot of times, due to biases that are in the system unbeknownst to people, they don't have that opportunity. So, an equity officer is an individual who will point out those particular problems that a company might have. And so that's basically the role that I will be filling.

Host:  And I understand that as an upper level management individual, you will be helping set policy as well as having an enforcement role against people that do infractions of the policy.

Guest:  That's true. Like any other organization, we want to make sure that everyone is following the law, following the rules and regulations. However, we really want to educate people, to teach them, because a lot of times that might be unbeknownst to them, people have biases that they're unaware of. So we don't necessarily want to be punitive but we want to be able to make an impact that is going to definitely continue the mission of the organization, but to make the organization, a much more inclusive organization, and allow people to learn and to grow. And if you educate people, then people will, I think, do better. So the whole point of this is that individuals, you know feel that we want to do something with the area of diversity and, but they wanted to not just say it, but they want to have action behind how they feel, that they really want to make a difference and so that's why we're here because people really do in fact want to make a difference. And this organization has always made a difference in the lives of those people who have had disabilities; they've given them a seat at the table, and they want to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table.

Host:  I’m afraid we're just about out of time, I'll just have to ask you, how can people get a hold of you if they have questions?

Guest:  Okay. And people will be able to reach me at 836-0822. My extension number is 508.

Host:  Thanks for being with us, Renae.

Guest:  Thank you so much for having me. It's been a pleasure.

Host:  You’ve been listening to Independent Perspective, a public affairs presentation of Western New York Independent Living. Our guest today was Renae Kimble, Chief Organizational Equity Officer with Western New York Independent Living and your host was yours truly, Ernie Churchwell.