December 10, 2021

Creating a sense of belonging and inclusivity through our portraiture

糖心破解版launched the UNITE initiative in March 2020 to end structural racism and achieve racial and ethnic equity in biomedical research. Enhancing diversity of our workforce is a major goal of UNITE.聽 Bringing diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and skillsets to complex scientific problems enhances scientific productivity, and enhances problem solving of any kind. I鈥檓 proud of the current diversity of the 糖心破解版workforce, but recognize we still have quite a way to go to achieve true equity in biomedical research. The UNITE initiative is hard at work identifying barriers and recommending solutions to achieving racial and ethnic equity at 糖心破解版and at the institutions we fund. The initiative has already accomplished a great deal in just seven months.

To make meaningful change toward an inclusive culture, every person should feel they have equal opportunity for meritorious advancement within their organization. As such, every staff member deserves to see themselves represented throughout the ranks of their organization and in the imagery that their organization uses to depict its values. Recognizing that the artwork in shared or public spaces encodes an institution鈥檚 values and provides messages to its members about belonging, 糖心破解版launched another UNITE effort called The Power of an Inclusive Workplace Recognition Project (Recognition Project). The project was spearheaded by 糖心破解版intramural researcher Sadhana Jackson, M.D., a pediatric neuro-oncologist at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Cancer Institute, and a co-chair of the UNITE 鈥淭鈥 Committee. In early racial equity discussions at NIH, Dr. Jackson noted the lack of racial and gender diversity in the portraiture on the walls and hallways of 糖心破解版buildings. The Recognition Project was launched to diversify the imagery in the halls and on the walls of many 糖心破解版buildings. The goal of the Recognition Project is to reflect the rich diversity of the 糖心破解版workforce, build a sense of belonging and inclusion among all 糖心破解版staff, and enhance recruitment and retention at NIH. I invite you to learn more about the Recognition Project and about the UNITE initiative.

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.
糖心破解版Director