Social equity is one of ASPA’s four pillars and a core value that we—its leaders, staff and members—place at the center of so much of our work. In answer to the growing need for an emphasis on this pillar throughout our profession, ASPA is launching a Center for Social Equity to focus on developing teaching/training tools and assessments to increase social equity competency, fostering diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in collaboration with practitioners at all levels of government, encouraging innovative DEI research that serves the public and coordinating DEI events across the Society.
Statement on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility
The American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) stands for inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA). This is fundamental for advancing social equity as one of our core values and as embedded in our Code of Ethics. We value the qualities that make each of us distinctive, and we know that inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility are at the core of ASPA’s strength. This advances our mission of excellence in public service.
Across our Chapters, Sections, programs, initiatives and members, we embrace the diversity of background, perspective, race, ethnicity, gender, age, language, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and lived experience. We welcome every person’s uniqueness and seek their input. We pledge to include IDEA at the center of our daily work, decision making, and interactions.
We commit to advancing policies and programs that drive IDEA using promising practices, best practices, and breakthrough approaches in all organizations, locally and globally. Inequity, injustice and racism are unacceptable. We are committed to creating and
maintaining positive change to advance IDEA in everything we do.
This statement was approved by ASPA's National Council in May 2023.