Northwoods JEDI is a collaboration of organizations and a group of community members interested in supporting a more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive culture in the Northwoods. We exist to connect people to resources, ideas, discussion, and to facilitate communication around difficult and changing topics.

Due to the nature of this conversation, resources shared on this website are expected to be challenging and provocative. We believe:

• Resources provided should stretch beyond the mainstream for informing and enlightening readers to a diversity of viewpoints, each of which have inherent and integral value as being a perspective of a person/individual/group. Information and resources won’t be excluded because they cause discomfort or risk challenging a closely held belief or status quo.

• Resources provided exist within a climate of evolution and change and as terminology and viewpoints shift and are clarified; some may lose validity in specifics but may maintain value in the conversation.

Resources featured are selected and vetted by the Northwoods JEDI council based on their value as determined by:

• present and future relevance to the Community of Practice;

• accuracy of information as determined by the reputation and/or significance of author/producer/source or as determined authorities in the field;

• positive reviews within the larger DEAI (Diversity-Equity-Accessibility-Inclusion) community;

• relationships to other existing materials and resources;

• availability of bibliographic and reference materials within the sources;

• ability to further the conversation around DEAI without promoting a particular partisan position, official, or candidate.

In the case an issue relevant to the DEAI community becomes proposed legislation backed or countered by specific officials, Northwoods JEDI may offer a position statement and resources presenting information relating to a specific issue or bill.