News

Have you done any of the following? You hear people speaking with an accent – and think to yourself they don’t belong. You meet someone of a different faith – and criticize them for their beliefs. You see a person from a different race at camp –... read more

Being an Upstander means to stand up – especially for others and for our values. It implies that there is a need for an opposing force – perhaps to bullying behavior or to a practice or communication that is keeping or pushing someone down. Acting... read more

The Northeast Illinois Council of Scouting America (NEIC) strives to be an inclusive organization. In recent years, Scouting has made tremendous strides nationally, eliminating many exclusionary policies. We are proud of that progress and committed... read more

Accessibility is the concept of whether a product, service or activity can be used by everyone. I think of accessibility as inclusion with its sleeves rolled up. How do we ensure that Scouting is accessible to all? We often think of accessibility ... read more

Many people hear the words equality and equity and assume they are the same. At their core, these two words are related, but their meaning is nuanced. Equality is giving people the same things and assuming that they benefit from the same supports,... read more

Diversity is difference, uniqueness—and it can be an indelible strength for an organization. Through diversity, we broaden our creativity and innovation by inviting different perspectives, different ways of problem-solving, different approaches to... read more