Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) & Anti-Racism
The Cultural Coalition hosts an on-going series of events, trainings and conversations with and for professionals and community leaders engaged in the work of redesigning policies and operations from a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist lens.
The series goal is to increase representation, access, and opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community members within the arts and cultural industry in our region – among leadership, boards, staff, volunteers and audiences served – through educational activities, collaboration, and networking activities.
Recent Event:
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PREVIOUS EVENT
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-racism: Answering the Call to Action
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 3-4pm via Zoom
Meeting Recording: Access Passcode: fW=P2GMG
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/FAx3j_RM-L4CH_kiyvohC_HFhVdbz802buP2Nu6wCLk7kNIDDUpkyn80qSUNPnOr.syqhHyZUBN9Oiu4O
Access Passcode: fW=P2GMG
Event Follow Up:
Speaker Info & Links:
Adriane Jefferson, Director of Cultural Affairs, City of New Haven – The Arts for Anti Racism
Lisa Scails, Executive Director, Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut – Walk In Their Shoes
Rachael Gavin, CEO, PR(iSM) Resistance Coalition
Kolton Harris, Program Associate, CT Office of the Arts
Next steps based on attendees feedback through interactive polling:
- We will provide a framework with a combination of activities for the next year (provided by our org, other community orgs, or in partnership with community orgs) to help you continue this work, including: pledge, online resources, opportunities for dialogues/conversations, training/workshop
- The training/workshop tentatively scheduled for January will focus on Undoing Structural Racism (for organizations) Resources & Suggestions
Some suggestions for next steps and action items (between now and the training in early 2021):
READ, SHARE & DISCUSS
Educate yourself, your board, and staff with suggested reading recommendations and discuss together. This work requires both a personal and professional commitment. You cannot do this work with and for your organization without personally doing the work yourself. Arts for Anti-Racism Together New Haven webpage with links (see Resources section). Scroll down for more.
POLICY & PRACTICE REVIEW
Inventory and identify the policies and practices that your organization has in place (make a list) so that you can begin to review with a lens of DEI/AR.
JOB HIRING
If your organization has hiring practices, consider the “Rooney Rule” and its pros and cons.
PLACES & SPACES
If you own or operate a public space, consider the physical (and even virtual) environment centered on a BIPOC perspective – is it welcoming, is it appealing, is it culturally relevant, does it contain or display items/art/images that may be uncomfortable or have negative impact on BIPOC visitors, etc.
BOARD RECRUITMENT HIATUS
If your organization is spending time tossing around names of “diverse” potential board members and recruiting based on how they can help your organization, stop. Just stop. Consider a hiatus of bringing on new board members, and instead, focus on preparing the board room (is your board on board with DEI/AR, are there changes to make before bringing on new board members, etc.). In addition, focus on building relationships, doing outreach, and listening to the needs, desires and goals of BIPOC organizations, leaders and community members. How is your organization helping to meet those needs? How can you build together?
FYI For Community Focused Change – The Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut will launch The Path to Thriving Communities: Creating Anti-Racist Communities in the Eastern Connecticut Region. The six-month cohort for nonprofits is a collective learning experience to encourage participants in actively using their work and voice to cultivate communities free of racial discrimination, bias, and racist policies. Information Session: Nov 4 from 10:30 to 11:30 Register
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Anti-Racism Resources
Beginning in fall 2020, the Cultural Coalition has planned a series of events, trainings and conversations with and for professionals and community leaders engaged in the work of redesigning policies and operations from a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist lens.
The series goal is to increase representation, access, and opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community members within the arts and cultural industry in our region – among leadership, boards, staff, volunteers and audiences served – through educational activities, collaboration, and networking activities.
Racial Equity Tool Glossary (2019)
The Arts For Anti-Racism (New Haven)
Americans for the Arts Cultural Equity Tools and Templates
Racial Justice, Racial Equity and Anti-Racism Reading List (Harvard Kennedy School)
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Board Diversity Initiative
In 2019, the Cultural Coalition was one of four organizations in New London County that participated in the second cohort of the Board Diversity Initiative, Minority Inclusion Project Incorporated’s main program.
Southeastern CT Cultural Coalition DEI Action Plan Report FINAL
For more on the Cultural Coalition’s Commitment to DEI
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
In 2018, the Cultural Coalition and the Community Foundation of Eastern CT, partnered to present two Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Workshops facilitated by Jamal Jimerson of Minority Inclusion Project. This page provides information about those workshops and materials, links and contact information for your organization to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in your organization and in the region.
Minority Inclusion Project (MIP), Founder/Executive Director Jamal Jimerson
Workshop Handouts from MIP
Workshop Homework from MIP
Workshop Handouts from MIP
ADDITIONAL DEI Resources
Courtesy of MIP
- Achieve-Diversity-StepByStep-Guide
- Barriers-Diversity-Inclusion
- Beyond Diversity and Multiculturalism
- External Talent- Why do Minorities and Women Leave in The First
- Measuring Racial-Ethnic Diversity in the Baltimore-Washington Region_s Nonprofit Sector
- Nonprofit Boards Don_t Resemble Rest of America
- Nonprofit Diversity
- Race to Lead – Nonprofit Racial Leadership Gap
- Seven Ways Your Nonprofit Can Avoid Mirroring Practices that Perpetuate Inequality
- What Is Unconscious Bias
- Why Diversity Matters
- Authentic Conversations about Race
Community Foundation of Eastern CT
- Report on the Status of Women and Girls – Community Foundation of Eastern CT
Other Resources
- Americans for the Arts Cultural Equity information/resources
- Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist Arts & Cultural Organization (self evaluation- one page pdf)
- Southern Poverty Law Center – dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society
- Racial Equity Tools – Glossary PDF or webpage
News Articles of Interest
- If Your Board Looked Like Your Community
- Moving to Action on Board Diversity
- Navigating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conversations
- Nonprofit Diversity Efforts: Current Practices and the Role of Foundations
Among the data points in the report, it found that:
- Seventy percent of nonprofit CEOs believe it is very or extremely important for their organization’s staff to be diverse, but only 36 percent believe their staff are actually very or extremely diverse.
- Forty-two percent of nonprofit CEOs report that their organization’s foundation funders have not discussed diversity issues with them.
- Of the nonprofit CEOs whose foundation funders request demographic information, only 21 percent report that those funders explain how they use the demographic information they collect.