Diverse Representation in Nursing Leadership: Developing a Shared Position Statement on Allyship

Diversity initiatives are being implemented widely within academia and society more broadly; however, the School of Nursing (SoN) at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, is taking an innovative approach. Faculty members recognized the need to support students at the graduate and undergraduate levels from Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ2S (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Two-Spirit), and International communities in a student-led initiative with the mission to promote diversity, inclusion, and equity within the SoN. This coalition seeks to offer students who are often rendered invisible within the academy and society more broadly in relation to dominant cultures and normative expectations an opportunity to build relationships and expose shared histories of oppression in such a way that issues of social justice are uncovered. In response to nursing students and faculty who self-identify as members of dominant groups and who sought inclusion as allies, the leaders of the student community groups recognized a need to develop a position statement on allyship. The collaboration that transpired between the four groups of communities to develop the position statement led to the formation of the Student Equity Coalition. This article begins with the authors' definition of allyship, followed by a description of the context in which this unique initiative is taking place, the rationale behind developing a shared position statement on allyship, and the significance of this work in positioning and supporting nursing students of minority status as emerging nurse leaders.