Impact 100 Sonoma has announced a new partnership with Epoch Education to provide members with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training. Believing that it is not enough to simply “not be racist,” DEI programming teaches participants how to be “actively anti-racist.”

The Impact 100 board of directors unanimously approved a statement at its June meeting proclaiming organizational commitment to anti-racism, and pledged to undergo training in the principals of DEI. The adopted plan includes opportunities for the board, the membership, and ultimately the greater Sonoma Valley nonprofit community to confront and address institutional bias over the next year.

The training will attempt to help participants recognize their role in racist systems, develop common understandings, definitions and agreements, and equip participants with the tools needed to stop perpetuating inequity while simultaneously working to repair harm and change systems.

In a press release, the organization pledged to “lead by example” and acknowledged that systemic change is challenging. “This is hard and necessary work, and Impact 100 is committed to leveraging its collective impact to create a thriving and equitable Sonoma Valley,” the statement said.

Epoch Education founder Dr. Nancy Dome maintains a home base in Sonoma. On Dec. 8, Dome kicked off Impact 100’s year-long engagement with Epoch in a virtual keynote presentation titled “Equity by Design.”

“If we want to shift climate and culture to become more welcoming to people as they are, then we have to broaden our own perspectives, make room for differing ideas and learn how to lean into discomfort,” Dome said.