Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Statement

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to conserve birds and their habitats through science, education and land stewardship. We believe that birds and their habitats are natural wonders to be appreciated by all.

However, we acknowledge that a long history of deep-seated discrimination and exclusion has influenced who has access to and feels comfortable in the outdoors and in the conservation movement.  We want to make our view clear: we condemn the unfair treatment that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities face from systemic racism. Many other communities—including LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, and religious minorities—experience similar injustices. Such oppression is increased when these identities intersect with race.

We also recognize that these realities are reflected in the limited diversity within our organization, the range of audiences we serve, the partnerships we forge, and the wider scientific and conservation communities. Our community of practice is to be an organization that empowers people of all backgrounds, beliefs, colors and creeds to join in, benefit from and contribute to our mission. We strive for inclusivity of all persons regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other status.

We believe that being inclusive and equitable is essential to our work of inspiring the next generation of conservationists, creatively answering research questions, or learning different ways of knowing how to steward the land. Just as successful bird conservation requires participation by all people and communities, dismantling systemic oppression and exclusion as well as overcoming our implicit biases will not be achieved without everyone on board.

This policy statement bolsters intentional and thoughtful commitment to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in our organization. Using Denver Foundation’s Inclusiveness Project as a guide, we commit to moving beyond our past history, implicit biases and organizational culture to greatly expand and improve our prior efforts to engage historically-underserved audiences of all types. We commit to integrating these principles of practice into every aspect of our work. This includes improving equitability and inclusivity of hiring practices and supporting and fostering new partnerships. Our work in the rural and urban communities we serve will be built on a foundation of honoring diverse voices, listening to different perspectives, and co-creating solutions that provide benefits for all.

We welcome feedback and suggestions as we navigate our collaborative path forward. Please contact us to discuss opportunities to partner with and support this work, or simply to share your ideas and thoughts.

Birds connect us. Through their migratory journeys, we partner and engage with communities across countries, cultures, backgrounds and abilities.

We look forward and commit to doing more to ensure representation, access, awareness, and exploration for all.