Diversity & Inclusion

For our Team Members:

• • Established an internal Diversity & Inclusion Council, comprised of Team Members across the organizations. The Council works collaboratively on ways to further change at JOANN, discuss current events and exchange open and honest dialogue.
• • Implemented four Business Resource Groups that work within our Diversity & Inclusion strategy.
• • Held monthly Education Series and provided consistent correspondence regarding cultural observances, holidays, and topics pertaining to D&I.
• • Provided resources, pronoun identifier options and detailed guides for Team Members to assist with navigating conversations regarding D&I.
• • Maintained a cultural calendar to ensure diverse observances are recognized.

For our Customers:

• • Created our annual Minority Grant Program, that provides JOANN grants to diverse content creators as well as paid teaching opportunities, visibility on JOANN platforms and marketing support as they build their businesses.
• • Launched diverse product assortments to ensure all customers are represented and reflected within our offerings. In addition, we created a Product Diversification Task Force to support this effort.
• • Increased diversity within our marketing, including in-store photography, email visuals, social media and paid education and influencer opportunities.

For our Communities:

• • Developed partnerships with a host of local and national charitable organizations who serve to support marginalized and underrepresented communities. Our Team Members give back through volunteering opportunities offered by our Diversity & Inclusion team.
• • Supported Breakthrough Schools, a non-profit group of charter schools that focuses on supporting students from marginalized areas, with donations for a new and improved school building.
• • Provided scholarships to Summit County high school graduates through the Akron Urban League.
• • Partnered with the LeBron James Foundation, which provides resources, schooling and shelter for marginalized students as part of their I PROMISE program, with a refreshed art room and crafting summer camp.
• • Provided crafting demos, product and a financial donation to GLSEN, a national organization that supports LBGT youth, and the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland, a non-profit that advocates for the Northeast Ohio LGBT community.