Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
How We Understand Our Work at The Wily Network
At The Wily Network, we are committed to ensuring that talented young people have a fair and real opportunity to succeed, along with a community that affirms their value.
At Wily, we define our work through five commitments: access, fairness, mattering, dignity, and responsibility.
Wily Scholars are navigating college and early adulthood without the safety nets that many of us take for granted. Their experiences, shaped by factors such as foster care, family estrangement, housing instability, and financial insecurity, are often influenced by income, race, and background. These factors can significantly affect access to opportunities and how individuals are perceived, supported, and understood.
These realities keep us focused on outcomes rather than intentions. They prompt us to recognize obstacles, respond with care, and take responsibility for ensuring that our work makes a meaningful difference.
As an organization, we emphasize access, fairness, mattering, dignity, and responsibility. These are not just abstract concepts; they are the criteria we use to assess whether our work effectively reaches people.
Wily Scholars not only benefit from this community but also shape, strengthen, and hold it accountable.
To remain grounded, we use a consistent set of questions to guide our decisions regarding programs, partnerships, hiring, fundraising, and growth.
The Questions That Guide Our Work
We start by asking, what might Wily Scholars see, feel, or experience as a result of this decision?
Access and opportunity
Who can benefit realistically? Who might be excluded — and why? What barriers could limit participation?
Fairness and Lived Experience
Do expectations and resources reflect varying starting points? How might income, race, or background influence this experience?
Voice and mattering
Whose experiences are shaping this decision? Who is missing?
How have we intentionally invited Wily Scholars’ voices into this conversation, rather than just leaving space for them to appear?
Will people feel heard, valued, and that their perspectives mattered in the outcome?
dignity and respect
Does this action treat people as capable and worthy? Are we attentive to how circumstances may shape how someone is perceived or treated?
responsibility and Learning
Who is responsible for the outcome? How will we know if it is working, and what will we do if it is not?
Once more, we ask, what might Wily Scholars perceive, feel, or experience as a result of this decision?
How We Stay Grounded
As The Wily Network grows, these questions are our guardrails. They help us expand thoughtfully while staying grounded in the realities that shape opportunity. They remind us that success involves providing opportunities and ensuring they can be utilized effectively.
This approach not only influences how we support Wily Scholars but also guides how we manage every dollar entrusted to us. It ensures that assistance is delivered in ways that are practical, timely, and meaningful. In this way, care and accountability are not opposing priorities; rather, they complement and strengthen each other.
As we grow, scale will not come at the expense of care, dignity, or trust.
This is how we build a community where no one has to navigate alone, where no one has to prove they belong, and where mattering shows up in how we treat each other, every day.
