Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) at First Place for Youth

First Place for Youth believes our shared purpose, More is Possible, is a call to action for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout our policy and practice network. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive multicultural organization that prioritizes the belonging and quality of life of all our program participants and staff members.

We are dedicated to achieving these goals by addressing historical and structural inequities in the areas of race, power, and privilege and the needs, strengths, and challenges of historically systematically oppressed groups and identities.

We strive to amplify our democratic movement where everyone is included and no one is absolved from responsibility in the work that lies ahead.

First Place acknowledges and honors that while we are committed to this journey, we have a ways to go to become more equitable in our operational systems and organizational structure.

To follow through with these goals, we must stay vigilant, hold ourselves accountable, and remember More is Possible when we are all committed in unity!

For ALL DEIB Information, Contact Dr. Angela Smith and Sonya Cravines

Dr. Angela Smith
Equity and Culture Manager

asmith@firstplaceforyouth.org

Sonya Cravines
VP of Talent & Equity

scravines@firstplaceforyouth.org


What’s Happening At First Place for Youth

In the Media

Advancing Equitable AI in the US Social Sector

One example of an organization using AI to support evidence-based decision-making is First Place for Youth, an organization that helps foster youth make a successful transition to self-sufficiency and responsible adulthood. First Place for Youth built a recommendation engine that uses precision analytics—a technology that predicts trends and behavioral patterns by discovering cause-and-effect relationships in data—to analyze program administration and case assessment data, and learn from differences in outcomes among youth.

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From Lived Experience to Rhyme: The Resonance of Hip Hop in the Foster Care Narrative 

In the vibrant world of hip hop, where storytelling is an art form, the echoes of lived experiences often find […]

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