The Bay Equity & INclusion Group
“The mission of BEING is to identify and dismantle systems of oppression within our organization. By turning a critical eye on our own practices of equity, inclusion, and diversity, BEING aims to foster a culturally relevant organization that engages students and staff of all identities in the Baltimore & Washington D.C. areas.”
Our History
BEING was created in April, 2019 as a space to look inward at our organization through the lens of equity and inclusion. While we’ve made progress in these areas, we know it’s an ongoing process that must remain a priority. The original idea was to take the conversations around equity, inclusion, and diversity beyond the training realm and shift it towards an action-oriented approach that is on-going an inward-focused.
The goal of BEING is to bring people together across departments to recognize influence and implicit biases to identify ways to better represent the voices of those not heard. With this, we can better care for our diverse students, staff, and communities.
BEING is not static, as a group it will to continue to grow and evolve with our organization. We’re looking forward to that evolution, and the work it produces. A few current projects we’re working on include CBOBS affinity groups, as well as more involvement in the communities we serve.
Recent BEING Projects
- Affinity groups for staff: Starting in July, 2020 a long-time BEING vision came into reality. Chesapeake Bay Outward Bound School began hosting our first affinity groups which currently include a Staff of Color group, and a Anti-Racist Ally group.
- With this year’s addition of our People and Culture Coordinator, we were able to add a stronger focus on equitable hiring and retention goals.
- BEING is updating our CBOBS Strategic Plan with a more dedicated focus around equity, inclusion, and diversity. This has also been an opportunity to reassess our BEING mission, vision, and values.
- Our 2020 racial justice action steps are up on our blog. We will be following up at the end of the year with a progress report on these steps.
Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Resources
Some organizations, resources, and events that we have been focusing on, excited about, and learning from:
- A Guide to Cultural Relevancy by Youth Outside
- Examining Equitable & Inclusive Work Environments in Environmental Education
- No Boundaries Coalition
- Baltimore Racial Justice Action (BRJA)
Our Organizing Team
KHAI OVERTON
A lifetime resident of Baltimore, and a product of its private, public, and charter school systems, Khai has worked at CBOBS since joining our Spring 2016 apprentice class. In 2019 , Khai was named Program Coordinator of CBOBS’s Police Youth Challenge Program. Improving police community relations, specifically between youth and BPD, is the main goal of PYC and within his tole Khai has pushed CBOBS into new spaces in this aspect. In October 2019, Khai delivered a TEDx talk on the program as part of the college TEDx series held at Thomas Jefferson University. Also in December 2020 , Khai was named to the inaugural Public Safety Citizens Advisory Commission by Mayor Brandon Scott due to his work in the realms of police reform in Baltimore. When not looking to create equity within the community of Baltimore, Khai enjoys coaching preschool sports clinics at the YMCA, and hanging out with his godson Anthony.
Jen Cusick
Rice Ermilio
Associate Program Director, Insight
Lainie Gray
Associate Program Director, Insight
Mika Nagamoto
If you want to learn more about BEING, be added to our monthly newsletter, be updated about events, offer comments, concerns, or questions, we would love to hear from you.