Many Zen sanghas in the West, including Dharma Rain, have grappled with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion for decades. At the same time, our country, state, and city continue to become increasingly diverse and multicultural. Taken together, these trends pose both opportunities and challenges in our effort to ensure that the dharma is available and accessible to all.

Dharma Rain has launched a diversity, equity, and inclusion assessment and planning process, which is being facilitated by Bruner Strategies. For clarity, a brief description of these terms follows:

Diversity – the demographic composition of the people in an organization, and the degree to which they reflect the demographic makeup of the community at large.

Equity – a commitment to make an organization accessible to all, and to identify and mitigate barriers or obstacles to full participation or access.

Inclusion – the culture of an organization, and the degree to which all perspectives are included, all people are valued, and everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Please take a few moments to complete this survey, including the demographic questions about yourself. Knowing who we are now will help inform our efforts going forward. Your responses are anonymous, and we encourage and appreciate candor.

Gassho,

Gyokuko Carlson & Kakumyo Lowe-Charde

Question Title

* 1. How diverse, equitable, and inclusive is Dharma Rain now?

  Not A Little Somewhat Very
Diverse
Equitable
Inclusive

Question Title

* 2. How important is it to you that Dharma Rain become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive?

  Not A Little Somewhat Very
Diverse
Equitable
Inclusive

Question Title

* 3. In what ways has Dharma Rain done a good job being diverse, equitable, and/or inclusive?

Question Title

* 4. In what ways has Dharma Rain not done a good job being diverse, equitable, and/or inclusive?

Question Title

* 5. If you have other comments, questions, or suggestions about diversity, equity, and/or inclusion at Dharma Rain, please share those here.

Question Title

* 6. Which best describes your gender / gender identity?

Question Title

* 7. Do you identify as transgender?

Question Title

* 8. Which best describes your sexual orientation?

Question Title

* 9. What is your age?

Question Title

* 10. Which best describes your race / ethnicity?

Question Title

* 11. Are you living with a disability?

Question Title

* 12. What is the highest level of formal education you have completed?

Question Title

* 13. What is your total annual household income?

Question Title

* 14. What other types of diversity do you bring to Dharma Rain? (For example: fluent in another language, veteran of the armed forces, lived/worked in another country, spouse or child is a Person of Color, etc.)

T