United Way BC fosters equity through human rights

When Ravi Grewal was starting out as a practicum student at United Way British Columbia in 2022, he noticed how his supervisors would ask him for his opinions on different projects.

“Everyone has a voice,” says the project coordinator with the food security team. “That sort of open communication made me feel really valued and respected.”

And that kind of workplace equity, coupled with the ability to make a meaningful impact in communities, meant Grewal knew very quickly that he wanted to build his career with the charity.

“I could clearly see a career forward for myself here based on that respectful environment.”

Fostering an inclusive workplace is the result of a dedicated investment from the organization over the years.

“The level of understanding when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI] in the work United Way BC does in the community, as well as for its employees has evolved,” explains president and CEO Michael McKnight.

“We asked ourselves how we reflect our community both in terms of the diversity of our workforce but also a reflection of the needs in our community,” says McKnight.

“That diversity is a very important part of our evolution to what we call a modern charity.”

The next step in United Way BC’s DEI journey was to create a dedicated human rights officer to uphold fairness and compliance in all of the organization’s practices.

The position, which was announced in August 2024, helps strengthen the mission and practices of the organization from a human rights perspective.

As applying human rights principles in the workplace is very specific knowledge, it was integral that the officer be certified in human rights theory and application.

“We need expertise in human rights so that we can operate as successfully, professionally, and as accountably to the community as possible,” says McKnight.

Aligning internal policies with the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights spills into everything the organization touches, something Grewal sees play out in his work supporting the 23 United Way BC regional community food hubs.

The hubs are often located in remote Indigenous communities, which could come with their own unique challenges around access, from transportation logistics and weather to food costs.

“Access to nutritious food is a human right,” Grewal explains.

The team approaches food equity from an empowerment perspective by focusing on programming to promote food sovereignty and sustainable food access.

“We really want to see communities thrive – that’s how we support them through the principles of human rights,” he says. “It’s more than food – it’s about strengthening the community capacity through food-led programming.”

Above all, the position is a reflection of United Way BC’s dedication to human rights, says Grewal.

“A different company might say that they’ll be equitable,” he says, “but formalizing a position to support human rights solidifies that commitment and is a really good example of supporting employees.”

Reinforcing human rights principles at an institutional level is a natural progression for an organization that attracts people who are motivated by giving back.

“The culture is really about what we’ve been able to create – it’s a collective effort,” says McKnight. “In the big picture, it’s a reflection of how we can create a better place for British Columbians and how each individual contributes to that vision.”

For Grewal, the uplifting culture at United Way BC is a self-perpetuating part of what energizes the teams to give back.

“If the organization is positive internally,” he says, “that’s going to translate to all of our external initiatives as well.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's BC’s Top Employers winners, published February 11, 2025 in the Vancouver Sun. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.