See Our Annual Impact Report

Prospective students attend open house Prospective students attend open house

 

 

 

 

Creating a Culture of Belonging

Our Commitment to
Inclusion & Belonging

We take a holistic approach to fostering an inclusive environment that values the experiences of both our Scholars and staff. We are dedicated to:

Continued Growth: Provide resources and educational opportunities for all staff. Encourage team leaders to promote inclusive behaviors, dialogue, and decision-making.

Fostering a Culture of Inclusion: Establish and nurture a culture where everyone feels heard, valued, and respected. Encourage employees to express their thoughts, suggestions and to share their recommendations.

Transparency: Inclusive dialogue is encouraged. We strive for a participatory decision-making approach to yield the best outcomes in service to our Scholars.

Ongoing Learning: Understanding systemic challenges, fostering inclusion, and recognizing our individual and organizational roles in creating meaningful change.

Our holistic approach to inclusion and belonging informs our key priorities: Scholar Experience, Staff Culture, and Organization-Wide Representation. We uphold these commitments through our daily work as a staff and board, focusing on both short- and long-term strategic goals. This includes regular assessments of our Scholars’ experience, ongoing evaluation of staff climate and culture, and continuous learning to ensure our policies, processes, and partnerships reflect our values.

Scholar Experience

As we support Scholars in positioning themselves for economic mobility, we are committed to ensuring that they understand the systemic context, choice, tools, and their agency to navigate these barriers as they enter and engage in spaces where they are underrepresented. We strive to empower Scholars to value their cultural capital. As we step into our work, we are committed to asking ourselves how our decisions impact and support the Scholar journey. The way we interact with Scholars shapes how we connect with underserved communities, and it shapes how our communities help us understand the world from different perspectives.

Staff Culture

We work to foster an inclusive space and a sense of belonging for staff, honoring the varied identities present, and holding ourselves accountable through consistent norms related to communication, transparency, and feedback at all levels across the organization in employee resource groups, and equitable leadership practices.

Organization-Wide Representation

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace across all levels of leadership. We prioritize fair hiring, evaluation, and promotion practices while actively recruiting talented staff and national/regional board members. Our approach ensures that our team brings a wide range of experiences and perspectives to best support our Scholars.

We Strive for a Culture of Belonging

At Thrive Scholars, inclusion and belonging go beyond tolerating differences; we actively embrace, collaborate, and engage with a variety of perspectives. As Thrive works to expand opportunities in the corporate world through our programs, we are committed to reflecting this same goal within our workplace.

Perspectives on Inclusion and Belonging at Thrive

What does inclusion and belonging mean to those who believe in its impact? Hear from Thrive community members who advocate for it, teach it, and live it. 

Diana

Senior Development Coordinator

It's almost healing in a way, to work for an organization like Thrive. For example, you can share your passion for pan dulce with others that understand that share that same passion. Talk to colleagues that share a curiosity and desire to learn, to be immersed, and to ask questions. You don't get that at all organizations.

Kat

Wellseley University, Class of 2024

Thrive and Amherst Summer Academy was the first safe space for me as a queer person. I want to thank my Thrive peers who made up the impromptu LGBT 'meetings' with me and gave me a space to admit I was queer; something I'd never had the strength to say out loud before. But the confidence Thrive left me with was enough to carry me and keep me self assured in myself and my identity.

Moises

Olin College of Engineering, Class of 2024

The Thrive community is a network of dedicated individuals from all walks of life that actively strive towards academic, financial, and life success. I've been lucky enough to where the Thrive community has taken me in as a family member, where my peers are my extended family. I look to my Thrive family for constant guidance, support, and love.

Betsy

Development Operations Manager

Working at Thrive has been a great opportunity to push myself to grow and learn more about our shared history and my place within that history. I value being part of a team that works to make a difference both in the broader culture as well as in the interactions we have every day. I am inspired by the changes I've seen in my time here and am grateful for our continued commitment to equity and inclusion in all that we do.