"Real food is elitist" sounds compassionate, but look closer. BSF CEO Kathryn Leigh Goetz challenges the assumption that low-income families can't prioritize nourishment, and makes the case that true equity means both upgrading systems and honoring every family's agency.

When youth in Illinois DCFS care identified equitable hair care as a statewide priority, they didn't just talk about it; they turned it into law. Here's how the Illinois State Youth Advisory Board for youth in care, in partnership with Loyola University Chicago, helped young people transform lived experience into lasting policy change.

In this blog series, I’ve spoken about my commitment to racial equity and undoing the damage systemic racism has caused all of us. I’ve called out performative allyship, stressing that authentic engagement must come from gut-level and heart-level understanding, born of personal experiences that reveal the real benefits of DEI work. One question that lingers, even if unvoiced, is: Why? As a white person, even my own mother once asked me, “Why don’t you like white people? Why don’t you seem to trust people like you?”

Where do Jews fit in DEI conversations? This blog explores the complexities of Jewish identity in diversity, equity, and inclusion spaces, challenging assumptions and addressing the erasure of Jewish voices. Through personal reflection and real-life stories, it examines how oversimplifications undermine the core values of DEI and calls for a more inclusive approach that honors all lived experiences. Dive in to uncover how we can evolve the conversation to truly embrace empathy, compassion, and the richness of our collective diversity.

In tense moments, the question “Is it because I’m White?” (or Black, Latino, or Asian) often comes up when race seems to explain what's happening. While race plays a role, it’s usually not the whole story.

In recent years, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has become a focal point in workplaces, schools, and communities across the nation. But for DEI and racial equity to truly succeed, it’s essential to go beyond conversations and implement practices that support healing and embodiment. Why? Because the stress of racism and discord impacts everyone’s health—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

DEI isn't a political agenda. DEI is the work of living up to values we've been pledging allegiance to since kindergarten. BSF CEO Kathryn Leigh Goetz responds to high-profile DEI failures with a call to lead with love, create brave spaces, and remember that liberty and justice for all was always the point.

True collaboration in racial equity work is harder than it looks — and not always for the reasons we expect. BSF CEO reflects honestly on a dozen dynamics that create no-win situations, stall progress, and complicate even the most well-intentioned efforts toward equity and belonging.

Identity acknowledgment without behavior change is a dead end. BSF CEO Kathryn Leigh Goetz reflects honestly on what it means to lead as a white woman in racial equity work, and the difference between leading from privilege and leading as an ally.