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 2022-2024 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
Girl Scouts River Valleys is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and racial justice, and is working to boldly lead as an anti-racist organization that uplifts and empowers every Girl Scout to know their worth and lead in their world. This means leading not just with words, but with actions.
Anti-racism is active—It means recognizing systemic racism and oppression as part of our societal norms, as well as part of our organization’s own culture and practices, and that we actively work to call out and eliminate systems of oppression through our words and actions. Striving to “boldly lead as an anti-racist organization” doesn’t mean we won’t make mistakes. What it does mean is that we recognize when we make mistakes and we change, and that we are here to ensure that Girl Scouts is a place of welcoming and belonging. Shortly after the announcement was made that I would become the next Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts River Valleys, I attended the Curiosity Conference event hosted by the volunteers from BIPOC Girl Scout Troop 18793. When the Girl Scouts at the event heard who I was, they were in awe of the fact that the “Big Boss of Girl Scouts” could look just like them. One of the girls looked up at me and said, “You look like me? Well, maybe I need to change what I want to be when I grow up.” #SuccessIsColorful is a hashtag I created in 2017 while working with youth at another organization, and now at Girl Scouts River Valleys, I’m seeing it come full circle. My experiences here will serve as my forever reminder that representation doesn’t just matter, it’s a MUST! Together, we can create spaces where every Girl Scout can find belonging and be their true, authentic self.
- Marisa C. Williams, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Girl Scouts River Valleys
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
Recruit and Retain
Require each staff member to complete a minimum of 40 hours of purposeful learning and service in communities to support their growth in intercultural competency.
Actions and Activities
