Our Commitment

Pea Pod Nutrition and Lactation Support is dedicated to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for our employees, clients, and the communities we serve. We believe that everyone, regardless of their background, deserves access to respectful, compassionate, and culturally sensitive health care. Our commitment to DEI is woven into the fabric of our company culture, our business practices, and our approach to client care.

We are committed to creating a space where every individual feels seen, heard, and valued, and where the unique experiences and perspectives of our team and clients are not only respected but are also celebrated.

Guiding Principles & Definitions

Diversity: We value the presence of difference. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, family structure, body size, and political views. We recognize that diversity in our team and our client base strengthens our ability to provide comprehensive and empathetic care.
Equity: We are committed to fair and just practices and policies that ensure all people have the opportunity to thrive. This means actively identifying and eliminating barriers that have historically prevented the full participation of certain individuals or groups. Equity is not about treating everyone the same, but about providing the tailored support each person needs to achieve their health goals.
Inclusion: We strive to create a culture of belonging. This means that every person—employee or client—feels welcomed, respected, and supported. We will proactively create an environment where individuals can bring their authentic selves without fear of judgment, discrimination, or harm.

Policy Aims

This policy aims to:

Cultivate an Inclusive Workplace: Create a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and unconscious bias, where all employees feel safe and empowered to contribute.
Provide Equitable Client Care: Ensure that our nutrition and lactation services are accessible, culturally respectful, and effective for individuals from all backgrounds.
Promote Cultural Humility: Continuously learn about and respect the diverse cultural, dietary, and family practices of our clients.
Strengthen Community Connections: Partner with organizations and community leaders to address systemic health inequities and expand access to our services.
Ensure Accountability: Establish clear procedures for addressing DEI-related concerns and hold ourselves accountable for the goals outlined in this policy.

Policy in Practice

For Our Employees

Recruitment and Hiring: We are committed to using inclusive language in all job descriptions and actively recruiting from diverse talent pools. Our hiring process will be standardized to reduce bias and will focus on a candidate’s skills, experience, and commitment to our values.
Professional Development: All employees will receive ongoing training on topics such as unconscious bias, cultural competence, and inclusive communication. We will encourage and support professional development that expands our team's ability to serve a diverse clientele.
Inclusive Language: We will use gender-neutral and inclusive language in all internal and external communications. We will respect and use clients’ and colleagues’ stated pronouns and preferred names.
Lactation Support: We will provide a private, clean, and comfortable space for any employee who needs to express milk, in compliance with all relevant laws.

For Our Clients

Inclusive Language and Intake: Our intake forms and communications will use inclusive language to accommodate all family structures (e.g., using "caregiver," "partner," or "parent" as appropriate). We will ask for and respect the pronouns and names of all clients.
Culturally Responsive Care: We will provide nutrition advice that respects and incorporates a client’s cultural dietary traditions and religious practices. We will acknowledge that healthy eating and lactation practices can look different across cultures.
Respect for Body Diversity: We will provide services from a non-judgmental, weight-inclusive perspective. Our focus is on health-promoting behaviors and overall well-being, not on body size or weight alone.
Accessible Services: We will strive to remove barriers to care by offering flexible scheduling, telehealth options, and a clear, transparent pricing structure. We will provide information on community resources, financial assistance programs, and sliding scale payment options where applicable.
Support for Diverse Caregivers: We recognize and provide support to all individuals who lactate, including transgender and non-binary people, adoptive parents, and those who may be re-lactating or inducing lactation.

Accountability and Reporting

Any employee or client who believes they have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, or a violation of this policy is encouraged to speak up. All concerns will be taken seriously, investigated promptly, and handled with confidentiality and discretion. There will be no retaliation against any individual who reports a concern in good faith.

Concerns can be reported directly to Lesley Shelley, Chairwoman/President of the Board of Directors lesley@peapodnutrition.org

Policy Review

This DEI policy is a living document. We will review it on an annual basis to assess its effectiveness and make necessary adjustments to ensure it remains relevant and impactful. We will solicit feedback from our employees and clients to inform our ongoing DEI efforts.