Meet the Organization Making the Animal Movement More Inclusive
By helping animal organizations authentically embrace and empower communities of color, the Encompass project is making the animal protection movement as powerful as it can be.
Founder and executive director of Encompass, Aryenish Birdie. Credit: Facebook / Encompass
“I’ve always been one of the only people of color in the room when animals were being discussed and not only did that make me feel alone, intuitively I knew we were missing really important perspectives”, Aryenish Birdie, the founder and executive director of Encompass, recently told Sentient Media.
It was with these thoughts in mind that makes the work of Encompass so important, a group which helps increase the effectiveness of the animal protection movement by fostering greater racial diversity, equity, and inclusion while empowering advocates of color.
The group’s work highlights that the animal protection movement would be at its most effective for humans - and animals - only when its voice is as diverse and inclusive as the population it aims to appeal to. As the group explains, “in the private sector, a diverse and inclusive workforce means more revenue. Why? Because these groups are more creative, insightful, and productive than homogenous ones. They enjoy lower rates of burnout and stronger feelings of belonging and engagement. And diverse groups better reflect our evolving world - which means they are more adaptable, resilient, and successful.”
Importantly, the group mentions that the animal protection movement is mostly-white, which can lead people of color to be less compelled to join the cause, or feel like they can’t express important parts of their own identities when they advocate for animals. Having a diverse movement is not only key to helping create a sense of belonging for the people of color who are advocating for animals, but also helps organizations to authentically outreach to communities of color too.
An authentically diverse and inclusive animal protection movement then, can help all advocates realize their full potential.
So What Can You Do To Help?
In an interview with lifestyle magazine Tenderly, Aryenish Birdie was asked to give some advice on how we can personally educate ourselves and help bring about increased diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her response is worth repeating in full, as she leaves us with some simple steps which we can all take, that have the power to create real change for humans - and animals.
Tenderly: What about some ways individual white vegans could educate themselves right now/to begin to do something to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Aryenish Birdie: Start noticing the spaces you’re in and how homogenous they are. Take an inventory of your friend group, your grocery store, your workplace, your bookshelf, etc.
Follow prominent vegans of color on social media and really digest what they have to say. There are many out there with different views — they will rock your world-view, most likely
Support efforts that are run by people of color — financially and with time (seek them out if they aren’t on your radar)
Take time to read and listen about these issues (side note, Encompass will be publishing a resource guide on this soon). Remember: race issues aren’t a problem only people of color face, we all suffer when there’s inequity and white folks aren’t devoid of race
Be comfortable with being challenged. Listen with an open mind and heart even if it makes you uncomfortable, grapple with the content. Notice your inner fragility.
You can follow Encompass’ work on Facebook and Instagram, and find out more on their work in this brilliant video below by Mercy For Animals:
Species Unite
A collection of stories of those who fight the good fight on behalf of animals.