Commitment to Equity
MEF Associates’ mission is to improve the lives of individuals, children, and families by building knowledge and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of public policy and programs. We do so through rigorous research and analysis that contributes to the knowledge, understanding, and evidence of how social policies and programs function. The underlying goal of our work is to bolster social progress in service of creating a more equitable world.
At MEF, we believe:
- Diversity is a strength that lifts all people.
- Equity is a social and moral imperative for a free and just society.
- Inclusion means not only bringing relevant voices to the table but giving those perspectives fair and honest consideration.
The Role We Play
Our work in social policy, particularly as related to our economic mobility research, brings us into contact with systemic inequities that perpetuate disparate treatment and outcomes for certain people and communities. Marginalization and vulnerability are not equally distributed in our society. Rather, these disparate outcomes are affected by policies and programs that diminish opportunity for some groups and stratify our communities based on any number of demographic characteristics, including race, gender, income and wealth, sexual orientation, immigration status, and ability.
We as researchers hold significant power in society, as governments, agencies, and nonprofits use the knowledge we help build to make decisions that directly affect communities. Equity work requires that we, as researchers, acknowledge that we cannot speak for communities and we must approach our work with humility.
Our Principles in Practice
It is insufficient to simply say that we at MEF stand against racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and discrimination. We believe it is necessary that we take concrete actions toward social justice and social progress. We are committed to leveraging our work in service of communities and social justice, because if we are not actively engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion work, we are contributing to the systems of oppression that continue to marginalize individuals, families, and communities.
As MEF engages in this work, we are taking stock of our current landscape so we can assess the status quo and develop positive steps to further our goals. These early actions include:
- Defining what equitable evaluation, diversity, and inclusion mean for MEF
- Reviewing company policies and procedures to identify areas for more equitable practices
- Developing measurable outcomes that move us toward equity and mechanisms to hold us accountable to achieving those outcomes
A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion means a commitment to questioning the status quo. Our internal Equitable Evaluation Workgroup, which includes staff across levels and areas of expertise at MEF, is identifying touchpoints in our research and evaluation work where we can incorporate principles of equity into our work. These include:
- Engaging community members as experts and stakeholders
- Embedding equity processes and outcomes into research questions
- Including equity-related context for the findings in our reports
- Developing and using guidelines for people-first, equitable language
Turning Inwards: Our Staff
A diverse workforce is central to our mission. We strive to create opportunities for all staff to collaborate and engage in conversations that push us forward as a firm and to build a diverse and inclusive culture. In addition to adhering to fair hiring practices, MEF’s efforts to develop our internal diversity and inclusion include:
- Engaging with expert diversity, equity, and inclusion consultants to review job postings to ensure we use inclusive and accessible language
- Intentionally posting job listings in various forums to reach a broader applicant pool
- Widening the scope of job fairs and in-person networking events we attend to include minority serving institutions and a broader range of higher education institutions
- Consistently reflecting on our recruitment and hiring processes to help increase the diversity of our workforce.
A focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion does not stop once the hiring process is finished. We strive to maintain a workplace that is welcoming and supportive of all staff.
Where We Are Going
A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in research and evaluation entails a promise to continue engaging with this work as the context changes, as society changes, and as MEF, as a firm, changes. We know there is no finish line for this work; rather, it is an ongoing conversation within MEF and with the communities, stakeholders, and partners we work with to make sure we are meeting the standards of equitable evaluation and continually pushing to elevate those standards.
As we move through our evolving and expanding journey of creating a more equitable and just society, we hold the following commitments for our work and ourselves:
- We are committed to having open and truthful conversations about how we understand diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work and in our culture.
- We are committed to continuing to learn and better ourselves personally and professionally.
- We are committed to approaching our work with humility, recognizing when we do not know answers, and learning from communities first.
- We are committed to incorporating principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our research and evaluation work.