USA Climbing strives to create and maintain an environment in which people are treated with dignity, decency, and respect. The environment of the organization should be characterized by mutual trust and the absence of intimidation, oppression, and exploitation. USA Climbing will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment of any kind.

The climbing community is a diverse group that invites and includes all people, regardless of their background, to fully participate in the climbing community. We strive to all be heard, valued, and respected. We hold ourselves accountable to grow and improve in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The DEI Committee is an advisory committee that is operated within USA Climbing. The goal of the Committee is to act as a voice and resource for all stakeholders involved within USA Climbing and to make recommendations to the USA Climbing Board of Directors and Staff on how to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in the
membership, operation, and leadership of the organization.

The DEI Committee will primarily fulfill its responsibilities as follows:

1. To aid USA Climbing in fostering a culture that upholds and prioritizes diversity, equity and
inclusion, utilizing the platforms and resources of USA Climbing to elevate marginalized voices.

2. To facilitate USA Climbing in completing the “DEI Initiatives and Recommendations” that were proposed by the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force and/or have otherwise been described in the USAC Strategic Plan.

3. To examine improvement, which may include tracking socioeconomic status, the participation of people of different gender representations, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities identifying as members of USAC (e.g., coaches, setters, and competitors) as well as the larger United States body of climbers as a whole.

4. To examine incentives that can be used to set a national standard, encouraging gyms and competitive climbing programs (eg. climbing teams, routesetting crews) to increase diversity, equity and inclusion.

5. To act as an advisor while USAC considers cases and complaints, directed to the organization, related to exclusion, discrimination, and/or harassment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, religion, sexuality, or disability.

6. Provide annual updates to USAC membership of the DEI committee’s work and receive input provided by USAC members.

To learn more about who serves on the DEI Committee as well as other USA Climbing Committees, please visit the Committee Page.