US Figure Skating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group
Back on May 24th 2022 I contacted Kadari Taylor-Watson, Director of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group of US Figure Skating by email and also left a voicemail.
After a couple of weeks not hearing anything, I re-sent my email on June 23rd and also called again, and left another voicemail.
It’s been another week and still no reply.
Back in 2020, US Figure Skating was working on starting the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group, of which I applied to. Unfortunately I received a reply in July of 2020 that I did not qualify to be included in the group. In fact, even though I was told my contact information would be kept for future contact regarding my experiences, I never was.
Looking at US Figure Skating’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion working group page, it seems their main focus is on Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and not anyone else who may be marginalized for being a figure skater.
Why have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Working Group when it’s mission statement does not line up with it’s title?
Diversity noun
di·ver·si·ty | \ də-ˈvər-sə-tē , dī- \
plural diversities
Definition of diversity
1: the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : VARIETY
especially : the inclusion of people of different races (see RACE entry 1 sense 1a), cultures, etc. in a group or organization
programs intended to promote diversity in schools
2: an instance of being composed of differing elements or qualities : an instance of being diverse
a diversity of opinion
equity noun
eq·ui·ty | \ ˈe-kwə-tē \
plural equities
Definition of equity
1a: justice according to natural law or right
specifically : freedom from bias or favoritism
b: something that is equitable
2a: the money value of a property or of an interest in a property in excess of claims or liens against it
b: the common stock of a corporation
c: a risk interest or ownership right in property
d: a right, claim, or interest existing or valid in equity
3a: a system of law originating in the English chancery and comprising a settled and formal body of legal and procedural rules and doctrines that supplement, aid, or override common and statute law and are designed to protect rights and enforce duties fixed by substantive law
b: trial or remedial justice under or by the rules and doctrines of equity
c: a body of legal doctrines and rules developed to enlarge, supplement, or override a narrow rigid system of law
in·clu·sion | \ in-ˈklü-zhən \
Definition of inclusion
1: the act of including : the state of being included
2: something that is included: such as
a: a gaseous, liquid, or solid foreign body enclosed in a mass (as of a mineral)
b: a passive usually temporary product of cell activity (such as a starch grain) within the cytoplasm or nucleus
3: the act or practice of including students with disabilities with the general student population
Change the name, or change the mission statement, because right now, neither one fits!