WBC Anti‑Discrimination Policy

1. Purpose

The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC) is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment for all small businesses, entrepreneurs, residents, partners, and community members in North Minneapolis. This policy affirms our responsibility to ensure that discrimination, harassment, and bias have no place in our programs, services, events, or organizational operations.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All WBC staff, contractors, interns, and volunteers

  • Members, program participants, and business clients

  • Board members and advisory groups

  • Partners, vendors, and collaborators engaged in WBC‑supported activities

  • Anyone participating in WBC events, trainings, or public spaces

3. Policy Statement

WBC strictly prohibits discrimination, harassment, or exclusionary behavior based on any protected characteristic, including but not limited to:

  • Race

  • Color

  • Ethnicity

  • National origin

  • Gender identity or expression

  • Sexual orientation

  • Religion or spiritual practice

  • Disability (physical, mental, or cognitive)

  • Age

  • Marital or family status

  • Veteran status

  • Immigration status

  • Socioeconomic status

  • Language or accent

WBC also prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports discrimination or participates in an investigation.

4. Organizational Commitments

WBC commits to:

  • Equitable Access: Ensuring all programs, services, and opportunities are accessible and inclusive for diverse North Minneapolis communities.

  • Culturally Responsive Practices: Designing and delivering services that honor the cultural, linguistic, and historical context of the West Broadway corridor.

  • Safe Environments: Maintaining spaces — physical and virtual — where all participants feel respected, valued, and free from harm.

  • Continuous Learning: Providing ongoing staff and board training on anti‑racism, implicit bias, disability inclusion, and culturally grounded community engagement.

  • Community Accountability: Listening to community feedback and adjusting practices to better serve historically marginalized groups.

5. Prohibited Conduct

Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to:

  • Denying services or opportunities based on a protected characteristic

  • Racial slurs, derogatory comments, or stereotyping

  • Harassment, intimidation, or bullying

  • Microaggressions that create a hostile or unwelcoming environment

  • Refusal to collaborate with individuals or businesses based on identity

  • Policies or practices that disproportionately harm marginalized groups

  • Retaliation against individuals who raise concerns

6. Reporting and Response

WBC encourages anyone who experiences or witnesses discrimination to report it promptly. Reports may be made to:

  • The Executive Director

  • A designated WBC staff member

  • The Board Chair (if the concern involves leadership)

Reports can be submitted verbally, in writing, or through a confidential online form (if applicable).

WBC will:

  • Respond to all reports promptly and respectfully

  • Conduct fair, impartial investigations

  • Maintain confidentiality to the greatest extent possible

  • Take corrective action when violations occur

  • Communicate outcomes when appropriate

7. Accountability and Corrective Action

Corrective actions may include:

  • Coaching or training

  • Written warnings

  • Removal from programs or events

  • Termination of contracts or partnerships

  • Board‑level review for severe or repeated violations

8. Commitment to North Minneapolis Values

As a community‑rooted organization, WBC recognizes the historical and ongoing impacts of racial inequity, economic exclusion, and systemic discrimination in North Minneapolis. We commit to:

  • Centering Black, Indigenous, and communities of color in our work

  • Supporting small businesses that have been historically under‑resourced

  • Advocating for equitable development and economic justice

  • Building a business corridor where every entrepreneur can thrive

9. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by WBC leadership and the Board of Directors to ensure it remains aligned with community needs, legal requirements, and best practices in equity and inclusion.