WILD DEI Initiatives

Dear WILD Families,

We have always been proud of the positive and welcoming environment that WILD provides, and we are also committed to excellence through constant improvement. With this in mind, we are excited to share with you the steps we are taking to grow into a more diverse, inclusive and equitable team through DEI initiatives. Spearheaded by Coach Alex and Coach Jeff DeB, we’ll be sending out information about ways you (athletes and parents) can get involved to further strengthen our partnership with each other and build a stronger team as a whole. 

The mission of our team is to foster a culture of excellence, inclusivity and equity through the sport of swimming. We believe the best way to maintain a safe place for our athletes and families is to respect the dignity of others, celebrate our differences and learn from each other. Since we believe WILD already provides a welcome, accepting environment, it’s important to note why this work is valuable in our team’s growth.

The DEI initiatives are, at their core, an outgrowth of our current bullying policies. Our bullying policies are there to create a safe, inclusive space, where no member has to be worried about being put in an unwanted position due to their identity. Our DEI initiatives will not only expand those protections in a more equitable way, but will add education on how to communicate with empathy. Since this is just the initial step, we know that this process will be a learning experience for all of us. We expect there to be many teachable moments as we move forward. Our DEI initiatives will help provide the tools and education needed to have discussions where both sides are heard, and the outcome is understanding and growth. 

Our DEI initiatives will be using materials provided by USA Swimming’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Program . Our coaches have completed a USA Swimming DEI Training and are in close contact with the USA Swimming staff. We will be following USA Swimming’s lead and recommendations as well as utilizing recommendations from Illinois Swimming’s DEI Committee. We feel that it’s important to start including the same language, and introduce concepts to the team that USA Swimming and Illinois Swimming see as core values to the sport.

We will be following all USA Swimming definitions and programming, which defines DEI as:

DIVERSITY : All the ways in which we as individuals are and can be different.

INCLUSION : Using the ways we are different to create a respectful and comforting environment for everyone.

EQUITY: Acknowledging that the ways we are different will require different processes and policies with respect to the individuals.

Should you have questions or concerns with specifics of the program, please reach out to Coach Alex or Coach Jeff deB. If your concern is more general, please be in touch with me.

We look forward to your partnership in making our team the best it can be!

Kaari Reierson, Swim Team Board President