What is Allyship? Being a Champion for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Allies are accountable for the communities they are working for. An ally speaks and acts on behalf of a marginalized person or community, feeling a sense of accountability to ensure their voices are heard. Acting as a strong, impactful ally requires us to start learning more about the needs of a specific community, and identify strategies to create an inclusive and equitable environment, while simultaneously checking in with members of that community to ensure they feel supported.

When it comes to Accomplices, think of this group as the “partners-in-crime”. Where an Ally will stand up on behalf of a specific community, Accomplices stand with them. Accomplices operate side-by-side with members of that community, ensuring that their voices are heard, and heard first. For Accomplices, if Diversity, Equity & Inclusion were a singing group — the accomplice is not the lead singer, or even the primary backup singer. Accomplices are not the John Lennon of Paul McCartney of the Beatles, or the Beyonce Knowles of Destiny’s Child. Accomplices are more like the Ringo Starr or the Michelle Williams. They play an important role of solidarity, support, and action, though they let others with differing knowledge or experience take center stage.

The third key concept is Advocacy.  Advocates are often not associated with the community and can speak up from a completely different perspective.  For example, Dr. Jacob McWilliams from the University of Colorado shared that in his work, he served on a committee responsible for lactation policies at the workplace for working mothers.  He himself is an advocate – he is not a parent, so there’s almost no personal risk for him to speak up and advocate on behalf of that population.  We’ll explore this role as an unlikely ally, or an advocate, more in our session today.

No matter which word you’re using – Allyship, Accompliceship, or Advocacy – each of these roles is a verb.   It requires us to actively participate in the process, regardless of what our diverse background might be.  The work of diversity, equity and inclusion must not fall solely on the members of diverse communities.  Allies, and especially unexpected allies, must also speak up, share out, learn, and advocate for the highest levels of inclusion in the workplace.