What We Believe
Open Sky Community Services is committed to becoming anti-racist, celebrating diversity and creating an environment that provides a safe, inclusive and equitable space for all by fostering growth and healing.
We will create, promote and uphold policies, practices, attitudes and actions that create unbiased power and access to opportunities for our community.
What We Do
Our Journey
2020
Launched the CARE Team
Created in response to a national call for racial justice, strengthening our organization’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
2021
Built our foundation for racial equity
- Developed Race Equity Strategic Goals and Implementation Plan
- Established a Race Equity Manager role and Board-level Racial Equity Committee
- Embedded Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) into our Strategic Plan
2022–2023
Introduced CARE Chats
Launched organization-wide conversations focused on racial justice, learning, and building a more inclusive workplace culture.
2024
Expanded our commitment and capacity
- Launched Diversity Champions and Employee Trust Groups
- Added a DEIB Manager role
- Strengthened training opportunities
- Established a Diversity Advisory Committee
2025
Reflect. Re-evaluate. Listen. Learn.
Continuing our ongoing journey toward equity, belonging, and shared understanding.
Awards and Recognition
2022– African Community Education Partnership of the Year Award
2023– Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers DEI Award, and Association for Behavioral Healthcare Salute to Excellence Award
The Committee Advancing Racial Equity (CARE) Team developed a symbol and talking points as an expression of Open Sky’s organizational value around anti-racism and equity. The symbol is comprised of words shared at the initial listening sessions when people were asked what they were hoping for.
Land Acknowledgment
Open Sky Community Services would like to acknowledge that our programs and services inhabit the traditional lands of the Nipmuc People. The word Nipmuc comes from an Algonquin Indian word, Nippenet, which roughly translates to “the freshwater pond place”.
We pay respect to the Nipmuc Nation and elders both past and present. We acknowledge the truth of many legacies of violence, displacement, migration, and settlement, as well as generations of survival and resiliency that bring us together here today.
Learn more about the Nipmuc Nation and land acknowledgment at:
For more information:
Please contact the DEIB office at diversity@openskycs.org.
