Island Press recognizes that low-income communities, and especially communities of color, are most affected by environmental impacts. If we, as a leading publisher in this field, are to contribute to a more sustainable and just world for all, we need to amplify the voices, ideas, and solutions of people from the most vulnerable communities.  

In order to do this successfully, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice must be core values of our organization.

The mission of Island Press is to provide the best ideas and information to those seeking to understand and protect the environment and create solutions to its complex problems. We recognize that the knowledge and experiences of the most affected communities are essential to solving the environmental issues that we all face. However, many of the sectors that our work touches have historically excluded marginalized groups, particularly people of color.

As part of our commitment to being a thought leader in the publishing world and the environmental movement, we also commit to advancing racial justice in our work.

Island Press strives to create a more sustainable and healthy world for all people across race, class, gender, geography, and other differences. To do this Island Press seeks to:

  • Attract and retain job candidates, authors, board members, and business partners from diverse backgrounds.
  • Create an inclusive space at our workplace.
  • Publish books by more authors of color.
  • Guide our authors to consider inclusivity at every step of the writing process, from research and interviews, to writing and marketing of their books.
  • Partner with organizations that are led by people of color in the design of panels for conferences, webinars, and other public events.

We acknowledge that incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion into our practices is an ongoing learning process. We consider this to be a living document, and we welcome and encourage feedback.