To intentionally make diversity, equity and inclusion embedded in how we work every day. To create a culture in which every employee feels like they can be their full, authentic self at work, and where our communities feel represented and welcomed with joy.
Starting from Within
Diversity, equity and inclusion are more than words on a page. They are values core to our beliefs. We have made a promise to our communities, our customers and each other to increase our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Creating a culture of equity is not just the right thing to do, it is a non-negotiable priority. We know fostering diversity and inclusion empowers each of us to reach our full potential and creates a joyful and welcoming environment for everyone. We believe Indigo has a unique platform and responsibility to influence and enact positive change. We strive to use our platform for good – to intentionally amplify the voices and stories of our diverse communities.
Real systemic change in the workplace comes from looking inward first. We know that we must create a workplace that is a truly inclusive and safe space for all of our colleagues. Throughout our DE&I journey, we will continue to listen to our employees and customers and learn from experts and our communities to advance the work ahead. We are early in our journey and recognize there is much to be done.
A diverse, equitable and inclusive culture is good for people, communities, and business. We are on a journey of learning and unlearning. We believe that allyship is everyone’s responsibility. We will build trust with honest and transparent communication. We know that fostering a culture of connectedness and belonging creates community and enables everyone to unleash their potential.
We know that we have a responsibility to ensure our product assortment and marketing is representative of the population we serve.
Based on our commitments to broader representation, we are proud to be the first Canadian retailer to join the 15% Pledge. The 15% Pledge advocates for economic equity by urging major retailers to allocate 15% of their shelf space to BIPOC-owned businesses. For more information, visit 15percentpledge.ca.
As part of the pledge, we commit to take stock of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) authors and businesses we support; take ownership of our findings; and take action to define and publish a plan for growing the share of Black, Indigenous and POC authors and businesses we support to at least 15% over the next several years.
As such, we are making the following commitments:
As of June 2021, we have exceeded 15% representation across the majority of our business areas including in social (30%), creative studio (86%) and book displays (30%). We are continuing to expand our assortment with more BIPOC-owned businesses, as well as launch exciting partnerships with BIPOC-creators with our private label brands.
We continue to amplify important cultural moments like Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, Pride and Indigenous History Month and highlight books by BIPOC authors and other equity-seeking creators year-round. In addition:
We launched Mini Marche, a new marketplace of small and local Canadian brands that are environmentally friendly, BIPOC- or women-owned businesses. In September 2021, we brought on 12 new brands; 50% of these brands are BIPOC-owned or led.
We brought on a Kids Advisor, Sueann Hall, who is a blogger, reader, and a mom. Her mission is to diversify children's libraries and bookshelves so they are more representative of the world around them. She helps us rate, review, and build lists of the best BIPOC books for kids.
Indigo Love of Reading Foundation
We believe in the power of education to help create change. For over 15 years, the indigo love of reading foundation has worked to enhance opportunities for students experiencing marginalization. Through our programs we provide schools with the chance to diversity the books in their libraries, enrich their curriculum, and put new books into the hands of children who may not otherwise have access. To date, the foundation has committed $33 million, benefitting over one million students.
Since 2017 the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation has contributed over $1m to promote literacy within Indigenous communities. Most recently, over $340k in funds from Community Response Fund went to support First Nations, Metis, Inuit families promote literacy while at home during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Indigo pledged $100,000 to the Black Youth Helpline, with proceeds from our Antiracist Reading List. The helpline’s mission is to prevent social and psychological breakdown in communities by focusing on education, health, and community development.
We are dedicated to continuing this commitment to promoting equity within the Canadian education system.
For questions or comments, you can connect with the team leading Diversity and Inclusion at diversity@indigo.ca.
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