Our Commitment to DEI and Health Equity
Our commitment to justice, dignity, and belonging takes two forms: a culture of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI); and a focus on advancing health equity for all.
Our DEI Philosophy
We recognize that to provide the best support for patients and their families, our staff and volunteers must reflect the diverse perspectives and backgrounds of the communities we serve. At LLS, DEI is a critical part of all we do. We believe our differences are our greatest strengths as we work together toward a more equitable world without blood cancer.
Our Culture
We are actively fostering an inclusive environment for staff and volunteers where everyone feels welcome, seen, and heard. Recognizing that DEI is ongoing and ever-evolving, we are continuously learning, improving, and holding ourselves and one another accountable. We invite the entire blood cancer community to join us in this effort.
Championing DEI
We’re cultivating belonging and psychological safety through our 11 Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) – with nearly 80% of staff participating in one or more groups, and an average of 20 LLS-sponsored ERG events annually. Today, 20 of our organization’s senior leaders engage as ERG co-sponsors, which creates greater proximity to teams and their experiences.
We’re fostering education through self-paced learning modules and thought-provoking group discussions. We offer 25 hours of training on belonging, dignity, and justice, as well as a self-paced, in-depth learning curriculum that encourages self-reflection and leads to a Changemaker Certificate at completion. We take an innovative approach through experiential learning platforms like Film Forward and provide educational opportunities for board members and volunteers across the country.
We’re pledging to create an inclusive culture through an active membership of CEO Action For Diversity and Inclusion the largest business-led initiative to advance DEI in the workplace.
We’re standing against religious and ethnic discrimination through the Anti-Defamation League Workplace Pledge.
We’re supporting our employees facing their own cancer diagnosis through the Working with Cancer Pledge.
We hold ourselves accountable to employees through annual surveys and active listening.