Donate to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Fund on Facebook TODAY, #GivingTuesday
Help Us Double Our Impact and Support for Communities of Paddlers Who Need It Most
ACA celebrated its 140th anniversary this year – a year of a pandemic, economic recessions, political shifts, and social upheaval, and a year our athletes had hoped to celebrate at the Olympics. As we look back at this year and the past 140 years of this organization, there is so much to reflect on and grow from as we continue to evolve and expand our organizational impact over the next 140 years.
During our recent ACA Virtual Conference, we hosted a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Listening Session. This session was the first step of many to address the lack of racial diversity within the ACA and paddlesports overall. Our newly formed Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) working group has been communicating with underrepresented groups to listen and understand how we can begin to make paddlesports accessible for everyone.
Today, Giving Tuesday, please consider our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Fund. The fund aims to help remove financial barriers to participation for underrepresented groups or individuals to pursue paddling education, leadership development, competition, and/or instructor certification.
What we need from you:
For this Giving Tuesday, our goal is to raise at least $5,000 to support our ongoing DEI efforts. Please consider donating or sharing our goal. You can forward this email, visit our ACA | Canoe – Kayak – SUP – Raft – Rescue Facebook or Instagram page to share our posts, or call any friends you think would be passionate about our efforts.
Why is ACA engaging in work around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion?
There are many barriers preventing marginalized and communities of color from participating in paddlesports recreationally and competitively. While impacted communities also include differently abled and economically disenfranchised communities that also include white people, we believe that a rising tide lifts all boats; if we can increase access and opportunities for the most disenfranchised communities, then there will only be positive outcomes and opportunities for others.
We have a lot of work to do still to listen, learn, and grow, but the work of our DEI working group is the first step in getting us where we need to be as an organization.
So, please join us today and the rest of the Giving Season, December 1st through the 31st, and help us reach our $5,000 goal – help us make a difference.