Redstone Rodolfo Serna created the above mural in collaboration with JOIN staff and community.
JOIN is committed to advancing racial equity and addressing systemic disparities experienced by the communities we serve. This commitment is ongoing and embedded in our organizational values, operations, and decision-making.
We recognize that becoming an anti-racist organization is continuous work—not a fixed outcome. It requires accountability, reflection, and sustained action over time. We are committed to learning, adapting, and strengthening our practices in partnership with the communities most impacted by housing instability and systemic inequity.
Our work in this area is reflected across our programs, policies, and organizational culture, including the strategies we continue to build and refine today.
The following are ways in which JOIN implements sustained action towards our Equity goals:
Community Leadership and Committees
We maintain active spaces for shared leadership and accountability, including:
- Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
- Community Advisor Coordinating Committee (CACC)
- Equity Committee
These groups help guide and strengthen our equity work alongside staff and leadership.
Data, Learning, and Accountability
We track housing placement and retention outcomes and use what we learn to improve our services. This includes adjusting approaches to better reflect cultural needs and partnering with culturally specific organizations to help address disparities in housing stability.
Dedicated Equity Leadership
JOIN invests dedicated capacity to move this work forward, including staff and leadership roles focused on equity and inclusion. This includes ongoing coordination, organizational strategy, and accountability to equity goals across the agency.
Hiring and Workplace Practices
We regularly review and update our hiring practices to reduce bias and improve equity in recruitment and selection. This includes how we define qualifications, where we recruit, and how we structure interviews and evaluations to support a more inclusive workforce.
Community Feedback
We actively seek feedback from program participants and partner organizations to ensure our services are responsive, culturally relevant, and continuously improving.
Training and Ongoing Learning
Staff participate in ongoing learning focused on racism, oppression, and equity in the workplace. This includes trainings, affinity spaces, and regular opportunities for reflection and skill-building as part of professional development.
Policies and Systems
We review and update organizational policies to reflect our equity commitments and to address discrimination, bias, and systemic harm. We also develop new policies to support a more inclusive and accountable workplace.