Our Philosophical Approach
Arts and culture build and strengthen communities, support development and contributes to the health and well-being of the global community at large.
In order to provide and sustain community engagement and audience development that benefits the needs of diverse constituents, we must follow FOUR CORE PRINCIPALS: EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESS (E.D.I.+A).
Equity, diversity, inclusion and access are not just buzz words, they are paramount to the life and success of art across all mediums.
Equity
Equity
To recognize the equality, dignity and respect of all people based on the common denominator that we are all human beings. Equity applies to staffing, programming, opportunities to perform, as well as fair and hospitable treatment of the people who support the work, the organizations and the institutions.
Diversity
Diversity
To celebrate the unique and important contributions each person can make to the collective based on their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical ability, age, socio-economic status, immigration status, national origin, political views, personality, life experiences. Diversity expresses itself in proactively seeking to respond to the needs of diverse constituents, even if they are not the core audience.
Inclusion
Inclusion
To build and promote a culture of belonging by actively inviting the contribution and participation of all people. In an inclusive environment, every person’s voice adds value.
Access
Access
To have the ability to unabashedly participate in the arts—physical, social, cultural, language, geographical and economic status. Access is a key driver of Community Engagement—it allows communities to envision a better future.
We help you build space for all. Our team is one of the world’s leading authorities and practitioners of E.D.I.+A within the arts. We establish innovative and creative strategies to ensure that diversified audiences are engaged in your brand. We are your partners in E.D.I.+A. management.
“Companies with more culturally and ethnically diverse executive teams were33% more likely to see better-than-average profits.
Forbes
$12 trillion in additional GDP if gender gap is narrowed by 2025.
$2 Billion in potential revenue if financial inclusion efforts broaden services for Black American.
McKinsey & Company
“Advancing racial equity in the workplace is a system-level challenge—ranging from the structural inequities of geography to underrepresentation in industries and jobs that could create additional opportunity to the behaviors of the workplace itself”.
McKinsey & Company
“The workshops you held for us created a space for learning, vulnerability, and action. Your commitment to creating greater access and equity greatly aligns with our mission, and our work with you has fueled the continued reimagining of our future directions.”
Executive Director / New York State Council on the Arts
“I highly recommend Walker Communications Group to any organization wishing to take an honest, inward look at their institutional history and create an anti-racist future.”
Irwin Appel / Professor and Chair for the Department of Theater and Dance/University of California Santa Barbara
“Donna was the perfect partner to introduce Staten Island’s cultural sector to thinking and best practices about how to authentically create relationships that help people to enjoy the arts but also understand each other better and find shared commonalities as well as celebrate difference and learn from each other. Donna and her team changed the internal culture for Staten Island’s arts organizations.”