meta pixel

Open Monday to Friday, 5 am to 9 pm; Saturday, 6 am to 6 pm; Sunday 8 am to 5 pm.

Search
Close this search box.

The Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition

We’re advancing equity by working together to create and maintain a welcoming and inclusive place for all who live, work, and visit our community.

MDEIB logo

Our Purpose

The Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition (MDEIB) is advancing equity by bringing together a group of individuals and entities who are working together to promote and develop the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire as a welcoming and inclusive place for all — including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals who live, work and visit our community. We partner with community members, local businesses and institutions to promote diversity, create meaningful community engagement, and build a diverse and inclusive foundation for all races, sexual identities, genders and people with disabilities.

Our Roots

The MDEIB Coalition was formed in the summer of 2021 in response to the City of Keene’s Racial Justice and Community Safety Report of March 18, 2021. The report provided a sound, actionable document as the centerpiece of the Coalition’s foundation.

In its earliest days, two essential elements for success were identified and agreed upon.

  1. A true “coalition” of stakeholders was required. To be successful, the MDEIB Coalition has to be inclusive of all voices.
  2. This had to be a regional initiative, including the entire Monadnock Region. This important work cannot succeed within the boundaries of any one town or community.

The Coalition has since come together as a committee of the Keene Family YMCA, whose Board of Directors has approved the charter and commissioned the MDEIB Coalition to support the work ahead. 

Our Goals

The MDEIB Coalition intends to be a valuable resource for the region in the journey towards our vision of advancing equity in the Monadnock Region. The Racial Justice and Community Safety Committee Report was derived from public input sessions and identified five priority areas. These priorities provide the foundation for the MDEIB Coalition.

  • 1. Public Safety Advocacy

    Advocate and audit for proven prractices by local law enforcement agencies, ensuring the health and safety of the agencies have the best possible outcome for all residents (especially our BIPOC residents).

  • 2. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

    Ensure community leaders are actively engaging in combating racism.

  • 3. COMMUNITY EDUCATION & AWARENESS

    Create safe community spaces to have candid anti-racism conversations, build awareness around racism and celebrate diversity.

  • 4. CORPORATE AND INSTITUTIONAL ENGAGEMENT

    Incorporate diversity in workplace and institutional culture to positively impact the attraction and retention of a diverse workforce.

  • 5. K-12 EDUCATION ADVOCACY

    Advocate and audit for specific anti-racism policies in the school system to consider fair and equitable disciplinary practices, curriculum and student anti-racism education.

Join the Movement!

Interested in learning more about the MDEIB Coalition? There are many ways to get involved. Join a committee, attend an event, make a donation, or just have a conversation. We are optimistic that together, we can make meaningful progress in this long-standing societal and local issue. 

Complete the contact form below to get started.

Support Our Work

The Monadnock Region is a special place, but there is room for improvement if we are to become a truly welcoming and inclusive place for all. We believe the work of the MDEIB is critical to the future health and vibrancy of the region. Your donation will enable us to provide community resources and educational opportunities, host public dialog and activities, and develop the metrics needed to determine the effectiveness of our work.