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Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of talking to leaders of volunteers about their commitments to equity and access in volunteerism. This has been part of the Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion (ADEVI) project. ADEVI is a multi-faceted investigation of the diversity of volunteer administrators and the equity journey of organizations they work in. The project's guiding principle is that organizations that are attuned to inclusiveness will be able to engage a more diverse cross-section of their communities. The project is a partnership between Arizona State University (ASU) and the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA), funded by AmeriCorps, a federal agency in the United States.
Overwhelmingly, our colleagues have shared that they want to ensure the communities they support are partnered with volunteers who respect and honor their unique identities, struggles and the ways in which they are also brimming with assets. At the same time, leaders of volunteers want to be more inclusive in their recruitment while creating safe environments where volunteers feel they belong and are valued as individuals.
This year, about 25 CVAs (Certified in Volunteer Administration) came together to create the Equity in Action Toolkit. I’m thrilled that we are launching this FREE resource on VolunteerMatch’s Learning Center. If you are trying to diversify your volunteer base or want to add an equity lens to your work with volunteers – this toolkit was created just for you! It is full of resources and information on best practices in promoting equity in volunteerism and volunteer administration. Use the tools to enhance some of your current practices or identify where you may have some gaps on your way towards a more inclusive volunteer experience. And remember, each of these tools has been thoughtfully created by your peers in volunteer engagement.
Our first set of tools is ready for you and we’ll be adding more throughout the year. You may want to start with the Equity Practice Framework, a tool to help you evaluate where you are at on your organization’s equity journey. Or maybe you want to attract a diverse group or potential volunteers? If so, A Guide for Creating Inclusive Volunteer Position Descriptions will definitely help you on your way. Maybe you want to get to know your current volunteers better? Use the Volunteer Motivation Questionnaire to connect with each of them personally.
No one needs to be left out when it comes to volunteering. The Equity in Action Toolkit is for you and for your community. Spend some time checking out the resources and remember to use them in a way that works best for your context. Our hope is that the tools help you enhance what you are already doing so that your practices are more equitable and inclusive.
From a young age, Faiza Venzant's parents instilled a strong sense of volunteerism in herself and her two older brothers. They, as immigrants to Canada from Uganda in the early 70s made a successful transition into Canadian life with the help of many generous volunteers. A volunteer herself from a very young age, she has been an advocate for volunteer engagement and excellence in volunteer management for the last 22 years. As a facilitator for the Community Action Poverty Simulation, Faiza is passionate about equity and access amongst volunteers and leaders of volunteers. She believes strongly that a community with a thriving volunteer base improves the overall quality of life and health of all its members.
Faiza is the Executive Director with the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration and active member and volunteer with Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC) and Association for Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE.) She has been certified in volunteer administration since 2016.
Faiza is the recipient of the 2022 June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism for Excellence in Volunteer Engagement. In 2020, she was the recipient of TAVA’s Innovation Award. In 2019, she was the recipient of the inaugural IMPACT award in Canada for Exemplary Volunteer Leadership. From PAVR-O, she received the Linda Buchanan Award in 2013 and has twice received their President's Award.
In 2018, Faiza published her first children’s book entitled, My Mamma Wants to Eat Me Up! As a mother of two young boys, she has not actually eaten any of her children.
