Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the ‘Mid Pines Foundation

This statement was written in 2021 by proud Black board member Rachael Meyers, in collaboration with The ‘Mid Pines Foundation DEI Committee. It is intended to be a working document that grows as we grow. 

Our History

Since its inception in 2009, The ‘Mid Pines Foundation has strived to provide opportunities for youth to attend Waukeela regardless of their financial circumstances. We have maintained our vast network of alumni through what brings us together and the experience we all share: Waukeela. We have worked to support families through hard times, and to make camp more accessible for those who may not have considered Waukeela due to economic constraints. The ‘Mid Pines Foundation has always believed that every child is deserving of the magic of Waukeela. 

While this belief remains the foundation which drives our work, our organization is long overdue for a reckoning. It is well past time that we acknowledge the harm caused by failing to adequately understand the racist, white supremacist history of summer camp itself, the complicity of our silence, and how a simple invitation to Waukeela does not heal the generational wounds of segregation, cultural appropriation, and land occupation. Willing camp to be an inclusive place for all without acknowledging its violent roots does not create authentic inclusion. Wanting everyone to feel welcome to apply for camperships without acknowledging the many invisible barriers of racism does not erase those barriers. In order for The ‘Mid Pines Foundation to genuinely represent the whole Waukeela alumni community, and to fulfill our mission of increasing diversity at camp by providing camperships, we must learn and acknowledge how we have fallen short, begin to repair the harm we have participated in, and carve a path forward that is rooted in authentic equity and scrupulous justice. With a growth mindset, we look with clear eyes at the violence of the past in order to manifest a decolonized and antiracist future; one that truly represents the safety and love Waukeela has always believed in. 

Where We Are Now

In December 2020 and January 2021, The ‘Mid Pines Foundation and the Waukeela Senior Staff teamed up to attend two initial Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion trainings facilitated by Waukeela Mom, Martha Haakmat, of Haakmat Consulting. We are so grateful to Martha and Haakmat Consulting for their generosity of labor, vast knowledge, invaluable resources, and incredible facilitation, and for helping us start from a place of love and Waukeela spirit as we begin this vital work. We recognize that DEI work is a lifetime commitment, and that we have only begun to scratch the surface. We are deeply committed to learning and reflecting on the intersections of racism, colonialism, white supremacy and economic injustice which impact our work every single day. We will commit the time and monetary resources necessary to unlearn white supremacy and build a truly equitable and inclusive organization. 

Moving forward

We have formed a DEI committee on our board, and all ‘Mid Pines committees have been working to integrate DEI into the foundation of their duties. We see this work as integral to every function of the board, not an added specialty task force. The Foundation has begun to identify areas of improvement for our board processes, including but not limited to: alumni engagement and shared learning, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, & People of Color) alumni empowerment and affinity space, intentionally diverse board member recruitment and retention, radically inclusive campership application structure and family outreach, and continued DEI training for our board members on a consistent basis. We are currently committing particular time and energy on what the board can do to understand its role in anti-blackness and anti-indigeneity, and how to begin repairing that harm. Board members have also teamed up with the Waukeela Senior Staff to maintain communication and collaboration as they push forward in this essential work. We support the efforts of Waukeela leadership and are excited to be in this together. 

Where We Stand

The ‘Mid Pines Foundation believes that there is nothing more Waukeela than standing up for what is right and being accountable to past and ongoing harm. There is nothing more Waukeela than celebrating each child and community member for their whole self, whole identity, and the whole complex history that makes them a Waukeelite. There is nothing more Waukeela than making history rather than allowing ourselves to be made by it. There is nothing more Waukeela than being loud, unafraid, fiercely passionate, and brave. 

Here at The ‘Mid Pines foundation, we believe in the dismantling of White Supremacy, in Indigenous Sovereignty, ending anti-AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islander) violence, LGBTQIA2S+ liberation and Trans empowerment, and that All Black Lives (and futures) Matter. While The ‘Mid Pines Foundation board members and Waukeela alumni come from all around the world, Camp Waukeela sits on N’dakinna, the traditional ancestral homeland of the Wabanaki, Abenaki, Pennacook and Pequawket Peoples past and present. We acknowledge and honor with gratitude the land and waterways and the alnobak (people) who have stewarded N’dakinna throughout the generations. 

Questions about anything we’ve referenced in our statement? Stay tuned for our Resource Page and learn with us! (Coming soon!)