Anti-racism

Public Statement

WEDDING AND EVENT VENDOR ALLIANCE (“WEVA”) REJECTS ALL FORMS OF RACISM. RACISM IN ANY FORM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED HERE OR IN ANY EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLIANCE. WEVA IS COMMITTED TO THE MISSION OF INCREASING CULTURAL RESPECT BY CULTIVATING GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF CONCEPTS OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, EQUITY, IMPLICIT BIAS, WHITE PRIVILEGE, WHITE SUPREMACY, AND SYSTEMIC RACISM SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE WEDDING AND EVENT INDUSTRY.

 

Policy Scope

This policy applies to all Wedding and Event Vendor Alliance (“WEVA”) members, including but not limited to its general membership, sponsor membership, Board of Directors, and all other staff and affiliates. 

This policy has been developed in collaboration with Writing Wrongs, LLC.

 

Purpose of Policy

The purpose of this policy is to acknowledge, prevent, and eliminate all forms of racism within the Wedding and Event Vendor Alliance (“WEVA”), including but not limited to, its general members, sponsor members, Board of Directors, and all other staff and affiliates. 

The goals of this Anti-Racism policy include: 

  • Promoting meaningful conversation regarding the history, contribution, and perspectives of ethnic and social groups, specifically those traditionally excluded from the wedding and event planning industry. 

  • Creating engagement opportunities that provide General Members, Sponsor Members, Board of Directors and clients with a welcoming means of raising concerns about any experiences related to racial, ethnic, or social identity when interacting with WEVA.

  • Assisting in the creation of brave spaces for people to comfortably discuss race and racism within the wedding and event industry. 

  • Formulating guidelines to foster and encourage personal and professional growth regarding anti-racism for WEVA’s General Members, Sponsor Members and members of the Board of Directors through providing the opportunity to access educational and training materials. 

  • Ensure accountability regarding actively working towards an anti-racist lifestyle amongst all WEVA’s members, including but not limited to: general membership, sponsor membership, and members of the Board of Directors.  

  • Prohibit vendors affiliated with WEVA as General Members and Sponsor Members from turning away clients based on race, class, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, or gender identity. 

 

Policy Statement

It is the policy of the Wedding and Event Vendor Alliance (“WEVA”) to:

  • Affirm the need to provide brave spaces for learning for all members.

  • Commit to a collective responsibility within WEVA to address, eliminate, and prevent actions, decisions, and outcomes that result from and perpetuate racism. 

  • Eliminate inequitable practices that create prejudicial or disparate outcomes for members and clients based on social or cultural factors, such as race, class, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, gender, or gender identity.

  • Respect and champion the diversity of varied life experiences of all general membership, sponsor membership, Board of Directors, and clients, which contribute to WEVA’s goals of diversity, inclusivity, equity, access, and justice. 

  • Acknowledge that racism is often compounded by other forms of discrimination, including but not limited to prejudice, implicit or overt bias, stereotyping, and racial profiling. 

  • Encourage WEVA general membership and sponsor membership to use inclusive language on all marketing materials and internal documents including, but not limited to the vendor’s contracts, website, and social media pages to ensure an inclusive experience from beginning to end.