Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, Racial Justice (DEIARJ) and Anti-Racism
The Girl Scout mission is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place, this includes every Girl Scout of every background.
Our strategic purpose for 2025-2029 is to boldly lead as an anti-racist organization that uplifts and empowers every Girl Scout to know their worth and lead in their world.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Message
Leading Boldly, Living Our Commitment
At Girl Scouts River Valleys, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and racial justice isn’t just words on paper — it’s a living promise. Written into our Charter in July 2023, this commitmentcalls us to boldly lead as an anti-racist organization — one that uplifts, empowers, and ensures every Girl Scout knows her worth and leads with confidence in her world.
Being an anti-racist organization means we lead with courage and consistency. It means naming the systems of racism and oppression that exist not only in society, but also within our own structures — and then doing the intentional work to change them. We won’t always get it right, but we will always show up, own our mistakes, and grow forward together.
This movement is about more than representation — it’s about belonging. It’s about making sure every girl has a seat at the bonfire, where her light shines just as brightly as everyone else’s. We are creating spaces where girls don’t just feel welcomed; they feel seen, valued, and celebrated.
We’re building a council where positive energy is contagious — where every volunteer, staff member, and Girl Scout feels inspired to lift others up and bring them along on the journey. Because when one girl finds her voice, she sparks a flame that can ignite a whole community.
We’re not just talking about change — we’re living it. And we can’t wait for you to join us on this journey.
- Marisa C. Williams, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Girl Scouts River Valleys
Becoming an Anti-Racist Organization
Everyone wins in an Anti-Racist Organization. Girl Scouts River Valleys recognizes racism and oppression as parts of our societal norms, as well as apart of our own organizations’ historical culture and practices. To achieve our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, we know racism and oppression in any form must be actively combated.
Actions and Activities 
Cultural Competence
We build the cultural competence of Girl Scouts staff, volunteers, and board members through ongoing learning and training opportunities. We define cultural competence as the ability to recognize that people have different lived experiences; a culturally competent individual or organization understands, accepts, and respects the differences between and within cultures.
Actions and Activities
Equity Framework
We are working to ensure that Girl Scouts River Valleys’ values about diversity, equity, inclusion, access, racial justice, and Anti-racism are integrated across each department in our organization, creating systems that keep us accountable to our community.
We are working to bring this work to our membership in meaningful and informed ways to transform experiences and be representative of the population and communities we serve.
Actions and Activities
Actions and Activities
