Expanding our circle of insight, inclusion, and impact
From buzzwords to real action
Help us empower women by building a strong Woman of Wonder
In today’s nonprofit, the words diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equity swirl around like confetti—colorful, important, but sometimes hard to grasp. What do they really mean? And more importantly, how do we transition from using buzzwords to building an inclusive organization where these values truly thrive?
At Woman of Wonder, we're building a more inclusive nonprofit right here in Southwest Washington.. From Vancouver's multicultural neighborhoods to rural Clark County communities, from Longview to Camas, our region's strength lies in its diversity—and we want our board and volunteer base to mirror that richness.
Building inclusive nonprofits in Southwest Washington
Southwest Washington nonprofits have a unique opportunity to lead on DEIB. Our region is growing increasingly diverse, and organizations that embrace this change, actively recruiting board members and volunteers from underrepresented communities, will better serve everyone in Clark and Cowlitz Counties. Woman of Wonder has been committed to this work in our scholarship program, and now we want to bring this to our board.
We're inviting you to join us.
The dance metaphor
Dereca Blackmon, co-founder and president of Inclusion Design Group, has spent over 25 years guiding organizations toward inclusive transformation. In one of her LinkedIn Learning courses, Foundations of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Blacmon offers a powerful metaphor for understanding DEIB, a metaphor originally coined by inclusion pioneer Verna Myers.
The dance metaphor goes like this:
Diversity is being invited to the dance.
Inclusion is being asked to dance.
Belonging is dancing the way you want to.
Equity is having a turn at picking the music.
This metaphor illustrates the progression from representation to empowerment. That’s what Woman of Wonder is all about. Our scholarship program serves diverse women across Southwest Washington. But that’s not enough. We must also ensure that every person feels seen, heard, valued—and has influence.
Our scholarship program serves diverse women across Southwest Washington, but we also want to have diverse faces in the boardroom.
Let's own this: Defining DEIB
Diversity Representation
Diversity is representation across various social identities, including race, gender identity, nationality, neurodivergence, and others. In our organization, it means actively seeking to reflect that reality.
Inclusion: How we treat people
Inclusion is how we treat people once they’re part of our organization. Do the newcomers feel comfortable sharing their input? Are their ideas genuinely considered?
Belonging: Authentic selves
Belonging is whether people can show up as their authentic selves. Or do they feel pressure to conform to the dominant culture?
Equity: Fair outcomes
Equity is the highest level of achievement. It’s more than just good feelings—it’s about fair outcomes. As Blackmon says, “Just because everyone feels good doesn’t mean they get paid the same.” Quick note - at Woman of Wonder, we’re all volunteers. Our pay is internal, the reward of doing good, being part of something bigger, participating in the community.
Building inclusive nonprofits in Southwest Washington
When organizations embrace all the concepts of DEIB, they don’t just become more ethical—they become more effective.
Why DEIB makes organizations more effective
Innovation thrives when diverse perspectives are welcomed and encouraged, and that’s why we want your perspective.
Woman of Wonder's mission
At Woman of Wonder, our mission is dedicated to bringing more to women’s lives. Our main program provides college scholarships that offer women a path to pursue careers that lead to better pay, or maybe just a job they can look forward to every morning.
We believe that higher education is our superpower and we want to wield it powerfully.
But first, we need your voice.
How you can get involved
We are looking to expand our board. We want to connect with you, learn from your life experiences, and invite you to:
Consider joining our board
Apply to be a Kindness Courier and send encouraging emails to our scholarship winners
Or, start with a small time commitment and volunteer at one of our events
Together we can build a stronger, more equitable community.
Learn more about Woman of Wonder's work in Vancouver and throughout Southwest Washington
Ready to take action?
Let’s start a conversation. Send us an email at: info@womanofwonder.org.
SW Washington Learning Resources
Dereca Blackmon’s courses are found in LinkedIn Learning, and you don’t need to pay a thing . . . if you have a library card. In Southwest Washington, you can use your Ft Vancouver Regional Library card to access LinkedIn Learning free of charge!
Log in with your library card here: https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/go/fvrlibraries