The Levitt Foundation is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in our organization throughout all aspects of our work, recognizing these values as essential to realizing the Levitt mission.
We know there is much to be done to combat injustice, structural racism and oppression, and we believe the arts, especially the power of free, live music in public spaces, can help bridge divides, inspire hope, and strengthen communities.
Our commitment to creating a more just, equitable and inclusive future for all begins internally, with our organizational practices, staffing and operations. We strive to create a culture where team members can belong, contribute and grow. We value having a team with a wide range of perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and skills, welcoming differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, immigration status, religion, political affiliation, zip code, health and ability status, or any other consideration, so that our approach to grantmaking is well-rounded and the connection with our team members and the communities we support is authentic. We focus on fostering a working environment that promotes collaboration and fairness, informed by high ethical standards and trainings in anti-harassment, racial equity and implicit bias. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity to our employees, board members and the communities we partner with.
In our grantmaking, we are reexamining our funding practices, processes and programs in order to broaden our support of organizations serving communities that are underrepresented and under-resourced, including but not limited to BIPOC, disability and LGBTQI+ organizations, helping to address historic and structural inequities. At the core of our work is a dedication to listen and learn from our Friends of Levitt partners, Levitt AMP grantees and other changemakers in communities and to support their work in fostering a greater sense of belonging for everyone.
As we continue on this journey, we recognize that this is a work in progress and that we may misstep along the way as we learn and evolve. We’ll continue to provide updates as our progress unfolds, including the creation of benchmarks to hold ourselves accountable. What propels us forward is a passionate, genuine, and sustained commitment to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do, as we strive to strengthen the social fabric of America, one city, and one concert, at a time.