Hometown America is focused on creating communities and teams dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, also known as “DEI”. From our team members to our residents, we celebrate unique perspectives and aim to provide service that cultivates a sense of belonging and inclusion. In August 2021, Hometown America created an internal DEI Council to research and recommend programs and initiatives that can be implemented to provide a greater voice for team members and engage in outreach opportunities within our communities. Part of our overall mission is to enhance quality of life and support the larger civic communities where we operate through our caring involvement, good citizenship, and corporate responsibility.
Our 2024 company-wide DEI Initiative, Service Day, is designed to provide our team members opportunities to volunteer with charitable organizations in their local communities. In addition to serving these communities, the events provide the opportunity for building camaraderie and enriching relationships among our teams and the greater community at large. Our inaugural Service Day event was held with our northern communities on Earth Day.
Countryview Estates Community Manager and dedicated DEI Councilmember, Keri Duff, helped facilitate and oversee the Service Day, which brought 11 team members from Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities together. Our participating team members volunteered during the annual statewide Park Service Day held by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages state parks and oversees more than 450,000 acres throughout Massachusetts. Our team served at Massasoit State Park, a local public recreation area that encompasses more than 1200 acres, with beautification efforts within the park by picking up trash and planting fresh flowers. The park published a statement thanking all the volunteers and local business who donated to make this year’s Park Serve/Earth Day a success.
When describing their day after the event, Keri said, “we laughed, played with dirt and trash, and even learned a thing or two about one another.” We thank each team member who volunteered and showed up despite the rain to make sure the event was successful. Hometown America is honored to have team members who are dedicated to our residents, the communities we serve, and to living our core values of accountability, empowerment, inclusion, and service.
