Our DNA is built on CEI, as we aim to expand social emotional arts (SEA) access to all.

Our co-creative process fosters healing in community in an environment of kindness, compassion, and humility regardless of race, color, caste, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic conditions), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding [or chestfeeding], or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, reproductive health decision making, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran or military status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other characteristic protected by state or federal anti-discrimination law covering employment (California Civil Rights Department, 2024).

From our inception in 2004, our CEI framework has included:

• Commitment to diversity among our constituents and trainees through proactive outreach and service to underrepresented groups via scholarships and other accommodations for individuals or organizations.
• Commitment to diversity among our core and adjunct teaching faculty, staff, and board members through networking and community partnerships. We proactively support our instructors in modeling culturally-responsive teaching practices, such as acknowledging past exclusions and injustices, crediting cultural sources to avoid cultural appropriation, and offering cultural perspectives and considerations on our methodologies whenever possible.
• Commitment to offering accessible community sources of support to address systemic inequities in mental health care and stigma associated with mental health.
• Commitment to the development of curriculum, teaching methods, and program manuals guided by mental health practices that reflect sensitivity to diverse needs (e.g.,  trauma, culture, ability, etc.) and that can be utilized for sustainable delivery in communities with few resources.
• Commitment to inclusivity through our SEA approach, which enables even the most reserved to be seen and heard—without judgment. By optimizing the process of creative expression, we remove barriers, such as self-judgment, self-consciousness, and excessive vulnerability.
• Commitment to honoring lived experiences and seeing one another as co-creators in a collective process of healing, connection, and building resilience. We also embrace, incorporate, and routinely solicit feedback from our diverse constituents in the implementation and refinement of our services and programs.