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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice and Accessibility

Our vision

North Carolina’s Water Resources Research Institute champions the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and accessibility (DEIJA). In order to expand, innovate and maximize our program’s effectiveness, we recognize we must embed these values in our organizational expectations and daily operations.

In addition, as North Carolina’s population continues to grow and diversify, our program’s relevance in the state increasingly will rely on how well we embody DEIJA.

We also recognize that societal barriers and challenges mean that we must initiate intentional measures if we hope to fully realize diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of our programmatic portfolio.

Our program will continue to strive for diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and accessibility by:

  1. proactively recruiting, retaining and preparing a diverse workforce that reflects diversity across all levels of our organizational structure
  2. engaging and serving communities and stakeholders that are representative of the broader populations where our programs operate
  3. creating and facilitating research opportunities that a) equitably fund under-targeted and under-served universities, faculty and students, and b) foster research with real-world outcomes that benefit under-served communities

We value DEIJA in many forms

Diversity

Austin Gray takes measurements of chemicals in a stream for his Ph.D. research. NC WRRI supported Gray’s research through a joint grant with North Carolina Sea Grant.

Our program celebrates people of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, citizenship types, marital statuses, education levels, job classifications, veteran status types, income and socioeconomic status types. We remain committed to increasing the diversity of our grantees, our program’s workforce and the workforce of the communities we serve. Additionally, we recognize our responsibility to increase the training and development of workforces in under-represented communities.

Equity

Our program remains committed to equal opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities. We welcome participation and leadership from all people from all communities, including those that have been traditionally underserved or under-resourced. We challenge and respond to bias, harassment and discrimination, and we strive to build awareness and capacities that foster equitable outcomes.

Inclusion

Our program is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication and education programs by and for people of all backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives and ways of thinking and learning. We strive to cultivate belonging, co-creation and active participation among our team, partners and communities. We believe in a flexible and adaptive approach to funding that can bring a diverse set of voices and experiences to the table. Accordingly, we recognize our unique position and responsibility to strengthen the STEAM pipeline to college and professional life for students of all backgrounds and abilities.

Zhenzhen Zhang teaches an elementary school class
WRRI–Sea Grant researcher Zhenzhen Zhang teaches an elementary school class how stormwater infrastructure protects local waters.

Justice

WRRI is committed to the systematic removal of barriers to equitable opportunities and outcomes.

Accessibility

Our program is committed to making information and opportunities accessible to people of all backgrounds and abilities.

We expect that implementing a vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility in these and other ways will be an ongoing and evolving process, one which our program will support and prioritize.

View funding opportunities

Learn about the Walnut Creek Wetland Community Partnership (WCWCP), which works to continue advancing environmental justice through a collaborative effort in Southeast Raleigh.

Recent fellows and grantees in the news: