Becoming an Anti-racist Organization

Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region is committed to creating and sustaining a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion in our organization and across our communities. This begins with an immediate focus on becoming an anti-racist organization that actively works to dismantle structural and institutional racism and condemns racist practices and behaviors in all forms.

With this aim in mind, we will advance and administer anti-racist, equity-based policies and champion diversity and inclusion throughout our organization and the communities we serve. Our commitment is foundational to our ability to realize our vision alongside community partners and deliver our mission to all we serve.

We have instituted and strengthened a number of organizational policies and will continue to evaluate our policies and practices going forward. To help guide us on our journey in becoming an anti-racist organization, we have developed a strategy map that provides an overview of how we will build anti-racism work into the foundation of our organization and integrate strategies and actions throughout all aspects of our operations and service.

Signed by:

Lori Forte Harnick
President & CEO

Eu-wanda Egans
SVP of Workforce Development

Keith Hall
General Counsel &
Chief People Officer

Greg Medlyn
SVP of Retail

Chris Politakis
Chief Advancement Officer

Anne Porter
CFO

Terryl Ross
VP of Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Public Statements

April 20, 2021 — Today, Derek Chauvin was convicted of the murder of George Floyd and we are grateful that justice has been served. Yet, there is so much more work to be done to fight racism in our country and our organization is dedicated to doing our part in this work.

March 24, 2021 — Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region strongly condemns anti-Asian racism and racism in all forms. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of those lost in the recent Atlanta shootings. As we continue our journey toward becoming an anti-racist, multicultural organization, we commit to doing the necessary work to dismantle racism and discrimination against Asians and to standing alongside our Asian community members in a collective fight against hatred and violence.

February 15, 2021 — On President’s Day, as we think about the 46 people who have served as President of the United States of America, we cannot escape the fact that we have had only one President who is Black and have – only now — our first Vice President who is a woman, who is Black, and who is of Asian descent. Why is this? Racism, discrimination, and marginalization have kept people of color from achieving official positions of power in significant numbers for centuries. This has much to do with the story of our country’s founding and development that we were taught in school.

February 1, 2021 — Learning about the past is critical to moving forward to become an anti-racist organization. Specifically, this means learning about the history of systemic and institutional racism that Blacks have suffered for centuries as well as the many achievements and contributions that Blacks have made, despite the racism that they experience even to this day.

January 18, 2021 — On this official holiday commemorating the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region is honoring another critical milestone in our history by announcing that we will formally observe and celebrate the Juneteenth holiday as a paid day off for our employees.

Juneteenth is the holiday that marks the day — June 19, 1865 — that the last slaves were freed in the United States. As we work toward becoming an anti-racist organization, it is important that we recognize this day, not only in celebration for the freedom it brought, but also in deep regret and sorrow for the horrors and hatred of the slavery system that preceded it and upon which our United States was built. It is equally important to take this time to recognize the continued racism and injustices that have continued in our country – despite the abolition of slavery – and the urgency and criticalness of eliminating racism in all its forms.

We commemorate this monumental day with full understanding that racism continues to afflict our communities and that our work to become an anti-racist organization has just begun. We call on all members of the community to join the effort to recognize this holiday and continue the work to ensure equity for Black Americans and all people of color. Only together can we bring about the change demanded for a just, fair, and equitable society.

May 31, 2020 — Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region is outraged over the murder of George Floyd and other senseless acts of violence against African Americans and all people of color. As a part of the vibrant and diverse community we serve, we grieve and join our voice in calling for unity with all who want to build a better world. That starts with each one of us speaking out against hatred and using our privilege to defend those without power. Goodwill stands ready to work alongside communities of color to put an end to systemic racism and injustice.

The following statement is posted in all of our stores, our work opportunity centers, and offices.

May 31, 2020 — Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region does not tolerate racism in any form, including racist behavior or language at any time. We are outraged over the murders and other senseless acts of violence against African Americans and all people of color. As a part of the vibrant and diverse community we serve, we grieve and join our voice in calling for unity with all who want to build a better world. That starts with each one of us speaking out against hatred and actively working to put an end to systemic racism and injustice.

Organizational Policies

Goodwill of the Olympics & Rainier Region is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all. This commitment is foundational to our ability to realize our vision alongside community partners and deliver our mission to all we serve. We have instituted and strengthened a number of organizational policies and will continue to evaluate our policies and practices going forward.

To help guide us on our journey in becoming an anti-racist organization, we have developed a strategy map that provides an overview of how we will build anti-racism work into the foundation of our organization and integrate strategies and actions throughout all aspects of our operations and service.

Educational Resources

We are proactively gathering and sharing resources from leading experts on eliminating racism and advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion for all. Here is the first resource we are sharing, which is a guide for us as we seek to become an anti-racist organization. If you have resources you would like to contribute, please contact us.

Continuum on Becoming An Anti-racist Organization

This worksheet describes how to develop a fully inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization in a transformed society which intentionally & publicly excludes or segregates African Americans, Native Americans.
Download >

Cultural Competence Checklist

A culturally competent professional is one who is actively in the process of becoming aware of his or her own assumptions about human behavior, values, biases, preconceived notions, personal limitations, and so forth.
Download >

Types of Racial Inequality

Learn the definitions of three types of racial inequity.
Download >

Black History Resources

To recognize and honor Black History, we compiled a set of educational resources that we shared with Goodwill employees during Black History Month. We invite you to join us on this critical journey to learn and to take action to eliminate racism and advance equity, diversity, and inclusion for all.
Download >

Just Transition For Philanthropy

A Just Transition for philanthropy requires philanthropic institutions to shift their practices away from extraction towards regeneration
Download >

Anti-racist Resource Guide

America’s Long History of Scapegoating its Asian Citizens

When leaders call COVID-19 the “China virus,” it harkens back to decades of state-sanctioned discrimination against Asian Americans.
Read>

Books About Asian Pacific American History and Experiences

View a list of publications collected by The Seattle Public Library.
Read>

What is the Model Minority Myth?

The myth of the “model minority” is pervasive. It does real damage. And Asian American students aren’t the only ones it harms.
Read >

Anti-Asian Racism Exposes the Model Minority Myth

The idea that COVID-19 originated in China has provoked an upsurge in bias against Asians in the United States.
Read>

Asian America: The Ken Fong Podcast

This is a weekly show that explores the cultural, artistic, historical, and spiritual aspects of the Asian American community.
Listen>

Self-Evident: Asian America’s Stories

Telling Asian America’s stories to explore what it really means to claim America today.
Listen >

Community Engagement

A number of community organizations have taken a stance against racism. Below are just a few of those organizations. If you have statements you would like us to post, please contact us.