Maryland Nonprofits Affirms Commitment to Justice, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

 

Join the Public Conversation on Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
Monday, March 3, 1:00 PM
Virtual Event Registration

Maryland Nonprofits is hosting an open community conversation about the importance of justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Nonprofit leaders, foundations, civic leaders, elected officials, business leaders, and members of the community who care about these values are invited to be part of this inclusive public conversation. We will talk about why it is of enduring importance to uphold the rights of all residents to prosper and thrive, what organizations and elected leaders are doing, and what we can all do together to create a more inclusive, just, equitable, accessible and prosperous society here in Maryland.

Later in the day on March 3, you can join us in Annapolis at 6:30 PM at Lawyers Mall for the People’s Budget Rally for Fair Share to advocate for a budget that reflects the needs of Marylanders. Additionally, supporters can submit written testimony for the Fair Share Act hearing in the Senate Budget and Tax Committee. For guidance on testimony submission, contact Kali Schumitz at kschumitz@mdeconomy.org.

Maryland Nonprofits Statement

Maryland Nonprofits remains steadfast in our mission “to strengthen organizations for greater quality of life and equity” in service to all communities across Maryland. Nonprofits play a crucial role in helping individuals and families survive, thrive, and build stronger communities. Our members provide essential services such as food, housing, education, job readiness, and family support, while also enriching and sustaining Maryland through arts, culture, environment, and community & economic development.

We recognize the profound impact nonprofits have in ensuring that all communities receive the resources and opportunities needed for a better quality of life. As such, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. This commitment is fundamental to our capacity-building efforts and the success of the nonprofit sector as a whole.

Through our work, we continue to serve and collaborate with all communities, including Native and Indigenous people, Black and Latine communities, Asian and Pacific Islanders, disabled individuals, aging populations, transgender individuals, and all members of the LGBTQIA+ community.  Working in this way, we are better able to reduce implicit and explicit bias, foster more informed decision making, and experience well rounded and authentic engagement.

By upholding these values, we ensure that every nonprofit in Maryland has access to the tools and support necessary to create a more just, inclusive, and thriving society.

“Nonprofits are the heartbeat thriving, diverse communities, ensuring everyone has a sense of belonging and opportunity to prosper,” said Heather Iliff, President & CEO of Maryland Nonprofits. “We are grateful to the strong and vocal nonprofit community that is actively addressing obstacles, removing barriers and speaking out against oppression.”

Statements from Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leaders Reaffirming Commitment to Equity and Community Impact

• “At Maryland Latinos Unidos, justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just values—we see them as the foundation of a thriving and representative society. As a nonprofit, our mission is to break down barriers and expand opportunities for all Latinos in Maryland. As community advocates, we work to ensure that historically marginalized voices are heard and empowered. And as leaders, we recognize that true progress comes when leadership reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. Advancing justice, diversity equity, inclusion and accessibility principles is not only the right thing to do—it’s essential to building a stronger, more just Maryland where everyone has the opportunity to participate and succeed.”  – Gabriela Lemus, Ph.D., Executive Director, Maryland Latinos Unidos

 

• “At the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County our mission is improve wellness and resiliency to equitably impact the lifelong health of all Frederick County residents. Our board of directors is committed to embedding a health equity lens in all the work that we do, and we are dedicated to establishing a health equity framework that will both guide and evaluate our work into the future. Earlier this month we announced the new community health priorities for Frederick County as part of the Community Health Needs Assessment and Local Health Improvement Process for 2025-2028. One of these priorities is addressing institutional and systemic racism as a root cause of health inequities in our community. We will not walk away from our responsibility to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion in addressing this community health priority. We will use the diversity of our community as a strength, we will pursue increasing health equity for all, and we will include and look to our neighbors directly impacted by our community health priorities for their input and leadership.” – Malcolm Furgol, LFC 2019, Executive Director, Coalition for a Healthier Frederick County

 

• “At ProInspire, we remain deeply committed to advancing racial equity, social justice, and collective liberation as core principles that guide our work. We believe that thriving communities require thriving leaders and nonprofit organizations—particularly those led by and serving Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, North African, and other historically excluded communities. Through our leadership development, capacity-building, and research initiatives, we support nonprofits in aligning their practices with racial equity values so that every leader and every organization has the opportunity to create transformative impact. We stand in solidarity with Maryland Nonprofits and the broader nonprofit sector in ensuring that equity will continue to be a value that we uphold, and a lived experience for all communities we serve.” – Bianca Casanova Anderson, CEO, ProInspire

 

• “The France-Merrick Foundation invests in non-profit organizations to enrich the quality of life across Baltimore and beyond. We envision an equitable, vibrant and sustainable Baltimore community where all people and places thrive, and, to bring about sustainable, comprehensive change, we understand that the underlying barriers harming communities of color in Baltimore and beyond must be addressed, with input from those most affected.  We continue to lean into our values of learning, impact, integrity and collaboration with others to carry out this work.” – Amy Gross, President, France-Merrick Foundation

 

• “As a nonpartisan nonprofit organization since 2004, Maryland Women’s Heritage Center (MWHC) has always maintained political neutrality and works to simply inspire Maryland women and girls to expect and demand equality by telling and preserving stories of courageous and accomplished women, past and present. Now, though, we are thinking more than usual about the women we have honored for the past several decades and how they resisted injustice, inequality, sexism, misogyny and violence. Many took risks to fight for their own rights and for those of their neighbors and the generations yet to come. Some went to jail for their activism. We owe it to them to use our voice, programs and advocacy to join the fight for what is right.” – Kathi Santora, President, Maryland Women’s Heritage Center

 

• “The Nature Forward Board of Directors, staff and membership is clear about our purpose and strategic direction in pursuit of thriving communities of people and wildlife in Maryland, DC and Virginia. To do that, we need to serve, engage and activate every part of our community. We all need nature and nature needs each and every one of us. Being inclusive, striving for diversity, considering equity and expanding accessibility are not optional in our work, but rather mission critical.” – Alison Pearce, Executive Director, Nature Forward

 

• Coaching for Community Leaders (C4CL) stands united with our fellow community leaders in their efforts to build a more just and equitable society by providing them with executive coaching and leadership development services. Our mission remains resolute: to uplift and empower changemakers, ensuring they have the tools and guidance to create lasting impact in our communities. We are evermore driven by the fundamental truth that diversity advances leadership and organizations, equity advances innovation, and inclusion builds stronger communities. These principles are not mere policy choices but core human values that define our work and mission. They remain non-negotiable in our practice and purpose, today and always. – Grace Manley, Coaching for Community Leaders

 

• “The Public Justice Center (PJC) pursues systemic change to build a just society. For 40 years, the PJC has used legal advocacy tools to pursue social justice, economic and race equity, and fundamental human rights for people who are struggling to provide for their basic needs. We focus our legal advocacy on needs identified by people and communities most affected by laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate racial inequities and injustice, which currently include advocating on behalf of families needing healthcare and benefits, low-wage workers, low-income tenants, and students facing exclusionary discipline; using appellate cases to establish good law in poverty and civil rights cases; and building a national movement to establish a right to counsel in civil cases regarding basic human needs. Race equity, anti-racism, and inclusion are at the core of our mission and integral to everything we do. publicjustice.org“- Kathleen Gregory, CFRE, Interim Co-Executive Director & Director of Development, Public Justice Center

 

• “At Camp Opportunity, we remain steadfast in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging. In a time when forward-thinking programs are under attack, we refuse to back down from our mission to create safe, affirming spaces for the children we serve. Every child—regardless of race, gender identity, ability, or background—deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. We stand in defiance of any effort to erase or diminish the essential work of DEIAB and will continue to champion a future where inclusion is not just an ideal, but a lived reality.” – Trish Woodward, Executive Director, Camp Opportunity

 

• “Although efforts to promote belonging and equitable opportunity are under attack across the country, Wide Angle Youth Media remains steadfastly committed to our mission and vision. As a leader, this moment has challenged how I think about our social impact not only for our youth, but within the nonprofit sector. It has also clarified my belief in the power of the arts, and my resolve to make access media production as equitable and accessible as possible for Baltimore area youth. The tenets of DEI are woven into the fabric of our mission and the impact we strive to have in creating a stronger, brighter future for Baltimore, fueled by creativity. In this moment of challenge and uncertainty, we will continue to speak up and make media that makes a difference, just as our organization encourages our young people to do, every day.” – Susan Malone, Executive Director, Wide Angle Youth Media