JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
(our expanded version of DEI)
At Resurgence Leadership, we believe leadership must be rooted in justice. While we align with the global call for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), we embrace the expanded framework of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) to reflect the deeper transformation our work strives for.
We serve individuals and communities who have been historically marginalized—by incarceration, systemic inequity, displacement, stigma, and exclusion—and we are committed to building spaces where everyone can lead with dignity and power.
Our commitment to JEDI is not a slogan—it is the framework that shapes our programs, partnerships, coaching, and leadership development. We work to dismantle barriers, redistribute access, and uplift voices that have been excluded from traditional leadership spaces.
What JEDI (DEI) Means to Us:
Justice
We reject the systems, narratives, and language that dehumanize justice-impacted individuals and others who have been marginalized. We work to replace stigma with dignity, exclusion with opportunity, and bias with understanding.
But we do not stop at creating healing-centered spaces—we are also committed to actively engaging in the work of criminal justice reform. We believe in transforming our justice system to be more compassionate, equitable, and effective—one that uplifts lives, supports rehabilitation, and creates real pathways to successful new beginnings. Through leadership development, policy partnerships, and storytelling, we contribute to shifting how society sees—and supports—those impacted by incarceration and systemic injustice.
Equity
We recognize that fairness is not sameness. Our approach is rooted in the understanding that people begin their leadership journeys from unequal starting points—shaped by generational disadvantage, systemic exclusion, and lived adversity. We design our programs and coaching to remove barriers, not just open doors. This means:
- Providing tailored support based on each individual’s context and needs.
- Prioritizing access and flexibility, including trauma-informed practices.
- Challenging internal and external biases that reinforce inequality.
- Ensuring that justice-impacted and system-excluded individuals have real, supported pathways to leadership—not just token inclusion.
Diversity
We embrace the full range of human difference, including race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, disability, language, nationality, faith, age, socioeconomic background, and lived experience. We view diversity not as a checkbox but as a vital source of innovation, resilience, and strength.
Inclusion
Inclusion means more than making room at the table—it means transforming the table itself. We design every aspect of our programs to ensure people feel psychologically safe, culturally affirmed, and empowered to lead. This includes:
- Actively validating different communication styles and learning needs.
- Creating environments where people can show up fully without fear of being judged or dismissed.
- Embedding feedback loops to ensure continuous improvement from those we serve.
- Building community norms that honor voice, agency, and mutual respect.
In Practice, This Means:
Centering the leadership of those directly impacted by incarceration and structural inequity.
Using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches in coaching and training.
Partnering with communities, not prescribing to them.
Continuously reviewing and adapting our materials, language, and systems to remove bias and expand access.
We understand that JEDI and DEI work is never “finished.” It is ongoing, relational, and requires humility. We welcome accountability, feedback, and collaboration as we grow.
Last reviewed: May 10, 2025
