Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The USBC places a premium on meaningful opportunities for all voices to be heard. A commitment to diversity and equity infuses our work and decision-making. The USBC believes centering racial equity helps us to maximize our impact in this critical work to build a "landscape of breastfeeding support."

Equity work with meaning and impact begins with a personal learning journey. The information and resources on this page can assist individuals and groups on their own equity journeys.

USBC Definition of Equity
USBC Diversity Values Statement
USBC CRASH Committee and Transformation Teams
Racial Equity Webinar Series
Racial Equity Learning Community
Resources for Enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Your Own Work

Racial Equity
Gender and Sexuality Equity

USBC Definition of Equity

Our working definition of equity is compiled from the examples of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Center for Social Inclusion, Collective Impact literature, and others. It views equity as three interwoven components: a lens, a mirror, and an outcome.

It is a lens through which we view the world to inform and guide the design of our strategies and activities to build a "landscape of breastfeeding support."
It is also a mirror through which we view ourselves and our organizations, examining our internal structures, culture, and policies and their impact on how the lens is applied and the outcome achieved.
Lastly, it is the outcome we seek to achieve, i.e., equity is realized when life outcomes are equal, in a statistical sense, regardless of one’s identities.

Equity work can take the form of actions designed to address historic burdens as well as to remove present-day barriers to equal opportunities. It can be accomplished by identifying and eliminating systemic discriminatory policies and practices, but also by transforming structures towards access, justice, self-determination, redistribution, and sharing of power and resources. Above all, it requires an inclusive approach that maximizes the engagement of the communities impacted. The equity journey is a constant work in progress, and as such our definition will continue to evolve as we learn and grow.

USBC Diversity Values Statement

The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) commits to inclusion, diversity, and equity as core values, embracing meaningful participation by diverse stakeholders, and actively soliciting varied viewpoints. We deconstruct all barriers to full participation in the USBC on the basis of identity.

Our definition of diversity includes diversity by position, gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, family status, gender identity, formal education, life experience, religion, communication styles, geographic location, and work-related skill sets and experience. We ground our work in inclusion, diversity, and equity to facilitate the achievement of our mission and vision.

Leading by example, as the national coalition empowered to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding in the United States, we model inclusion, diversity, and equity for member organizations, breastfeeding coalitions, and all populations we serve.

(original approved 11/3/2011; revision approved 8/6/2015; modifications approved 3/27/2020)

USBC CRASH Committee & Transformation Teams

In August 2013, the USBC Board of Directors formed the CRASH Committee to enhance USBC governance, membership, personnel, and coalitions' ability to build structures, systems, and a culture of inclusiveness and mutual support for all peoples. The committee's name comes from the name of a cultural competency training program for medical professionals. "CRASH" is a mnemonic for the following essential components of culturally competent health care: consider Culture, show Respect, Assess/Affirm differences, show Sensitivity and Self-awareness, and do it all with Humility.

The CRASH Committee has developed a set of recommendations for the USBC in each of its four areas and is serving as the driver of cultural change within the organization by forging a national-level dialogue with an emphasis towards action on diversity, equity, and inclusion. It is working in Transformation Teams to prioritize and implement policy and structural changes in each of its four domains: governance/leadership, membership, staff/personnel, and coalitions.

Racial Equity Webinar Series

This series of bi-monthly webinars is hosted by the USBC as part of its efforts to "create and model a culture of inclusion, diversity & equity" (USBC Strategic Framework Goal 4). With funding support from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, this series will focus on building the capacity of the breastfeeding field to apply both an "equity lens" to inform and guide our external strategies and activities, but also an "equity mirror" to examine our internal structures, culture, and policies. View past webinar sessions.

Register for the webinar series

Racial Equity Learning Community

The USBC has been funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to host this community as part of an inclusive learning and transformation process for the "First Food" field. The community will build the capacity of the breastfeeding field to apply both an "equity lens" to inform and guide our external strategies and activities, but also an "equity mirror" to examine our internal structures, culture, and policies.

Join the Racial Equity Online Learning Community