Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Antiracism, and Justice (DEIAJ) Statement

We at Viney think about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Antiracism, and Justice (DEIAJ) broadly, with a strong emphasis on racial justice and intersectionality as foundational to all social justice. That is, while we begin our DEI efforts and our work as a social-justice-driven marketing agency with considerations of race, ethnicity, and nationality — three of the most contentious identity categories in the U.S. — we also attend carefully to gender identity, sexual preference (we avoid assumptions of heteronormativity, for example), ability (including physical ability, cognitive ability and mental health), age, socioeconomic class and backgrounds, and more. We think about how people’s dynamic, layered identities impact 1) their exposure to our clients’ messages; 2) their access to clients’ resources; 3) their ability to pursue and accept the opportunities clients offer that are relevant to them; 4) their experiences with those messages, resources, and opportunities; and 5) their continued engagement and persistence amid challenges and setbacks.

Our standards of success for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are reflected in our employee and partner demographics, operations, and clientele. We are a small but mighty team of professionals who prioritize DEI in our hiring practices (four of our five team members are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and the one who is white has extensive graduate training in analyzing structural racism and is steadfastly committed to breaking down structural barriers to equity). Our team represents various other marginalized identities as well.

The culture of our business is one of mutual respect, trust, and collaboration. We recognize and value the different experiences, knowledge, and perspectives each of us brings to our work, and we actively draw on each other’s unique vantage points and strengths in our creative process.