Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

The American Youth Foundation invites all people to be their own best selves.

We seek to create communities where no one is excluded because of who they are. We enthusiastically welcome staff and participants with diverse backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities that align with our mission and values. The AYF continually assesses our practices and policies through cultural awareness and inclusivity. Our community understands that we are lifelong learners.

We value each person’s right to fully experience our programs free from prejudice and harassment based on race, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, or other aspects of their identity. We honor and welcome campers and staff of all gender identities, including transgender and gender-expansive individuals.

We believe diversity in our communities enriches the program experience for all, provided everyone feels safe to be their authentic . We welcome the expression of different ideas and perspectives that do not infringe on others’ right to authentically exist.

All reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate participants with different experiences, conditions, strengths, and abilities. Our goal is to include as many participants as possible; however, we are limited in what we can provide in terms of medical care and our current physical sites. We partner with families in a thorough medical review process that looks at both physical and mental, emotional health to determine if we can safely serve their child.

We do this by:
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The American Youth Foundation values…

Embracing Diversity...

...as the active, lifelong practice of welcoming and celebrating the uniqueness of all individuals. There is inherent value and dignity in every human life. The AYF community intentionally seeks to invite people who hold a broad range of identities and backgrounds as we build new communities each year.
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Equity...

...as the distribution of resources to individuals according to their specific needs. The AYF will actively pursue equity for all in ways that honor individual needs while addressing systematic disadvantages that limit access to our programs. We will support community members by continuously reviewing our approach to programming and the experiences we offer.
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Inclusion...

...as intentionally valuing all lived experiences. Inclusive communities allow everyone to be their genuine, best selves. We expect each person in our communities to be open to exploring differences, as long as those differences honor others’ right to belong.
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Belonging...

...as the genuine feeling of being mutually welcomed, accepted, respected, valued, and empowered. Through the AYF’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we will work together to create experiences where everyone is invited to be their true, authentic, best selves.