DEI Committee Update: Introducing DEBI

As Associations West continues to grow and welcome members across California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada, we are evolving our DEI Committee to better align with our Success Plan initiatives. Moving forward, the committee will be known as the Diversity, Equity, Belonging, and Inclusion (DEBI) Committee.

Aligned with our strategic pillar of Connecting and Empowering Community, DEBI will help Associations West identify opportunities to foster belonging, strengthen connections across our growing membership, and create a more welcoming and inclusive experience for members throughout the regions we serve.

The committee will serve in an advisory capacity to the Board and organization, helping identify strategic priorities, provide recommendations, and guide how diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion are reflected in our organizational practices and member experience. Members will also lead select initiatives and tactical work that bring these priorities to life. Ultimately, DEBI will help Associations West build a stronger, more connected community where members feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to participate.

We extend our gratitude to the DEI Committee members and leaders who, over the past several years, have led important and sometimes difficult conversations and have helped shape Associations West’s strategy and approach to this work. Committee leaders will continue to provide feedback and perspective as we evolve our approach to meet the changing needs of our organization and members.

In the coming weeks, we will launch a special application period for the 2026–27 DEBI Committee. If you are passionate about strengthening community, fostering belonging, and helping shape this work at Associations West, we encourage you to watch for the application announcement and consider getting involved. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Denize Maldonado, Director of Membership Engagement.