In keeping with our organizational values, OUT MetroWest is committed to combating racism and celebrating racial diversity. As an organization with a predominantly white history in a predominantly white region, we must engage in ongoing learning, learn from our mistakes, and center the voices, perspectives, and feedback of Black, Indigenous, and all People of Color (BIPOC).
Here are some of our explicit commitments, including some that are currently in-progress:
- Ensure that programs are accessible and relevant to youth of color
- Audit and improve organization policies (e.g. paid time off, evaluation, etc.) in an effort to eliminate racial bias and the influence of white supremacy
- Meet or exceed the percentage of MetroWest residents of color among participants, staff, contractors, guest speakers, and board members (current population of MetroWest is ~22% residents of color)
- Share our physical resources, including space, with BIPOC organizations (to make a request, email us)
- Include a land acknowledgment at gatherings and in publications
- Promote BIPOC-led fundraising and advocacy efforts (you can reach us via social media @outmetrowest)
- Curate our resource library to reflect racial diversity
- Translate written materials to Spanish and Portuguese
- Minimize our engagement with law enforcement; view our law enforcement policy
We invite your feedback and suggestions about our commitments. You can reach out to executive director Whitney Retallic.
Land Acknowledgment
OUT MetroWest recognizes the Nipmuc and Massachusett nations, on whose traditional lands we deliver our programs. We acknowledge these Indigenous peoples as the past, present, and future caretakers of the land now known as the MetroWest Boston region.
Nipmuc homelands include areas such as Natick, Sudbury, and the state-acknowledged Hassanamisco reservation in Grafton. Massachusett homelands include areas like Dedham, Newton, Milton, Sharon, Wayland, and Wellesley. A precise map reflecting contemporary town lines is impossible to draw, but we know that Indigenous people inhabited the MetroWest region for thousands of years before Europeans displaced, enslaved, and killed the majority of the local population. Despite settler-colonizers’ systematic efforts to wipe out native cultures, hundreds of Nipmuc and Massachusett people remain to this day.
As an LGBTQ+ organization, we note the particular harm inflicted upon Two Spirit people under European settler colonialism. We honor the resilience of those on whose ancestral lands OUT MetroWest operates and recognize that LGBTQ+ liberation is not possible without Indigenous liberation.
Hiring
We believe that LGBTQ+ youth thrive when connected to diverse adult role models. When we have job openings, they will be posted on our job openings page. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other candidates of color whose identities and lived experiences reflect the rich diversity of our LGBTQ+ youth participants. If you identify as LGBTQ+ and a Person of Color and would like us to keep you in mind for future job openings, please consider reaching out to Whitney Retallic, executive director, to share your interest. We are happy to keep your materials on-file for when openings occur.