Diversity

In principle and practice, AAUW-NYS values and seeks an inclusive diverse membership.

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or class.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is everyone’s responsibility. from branch members to New York State’s leadership.

Look for the picture of the woman in the middle with the different ways people are diverse with identities and intersectionality

AAUW’s mission statement emphasizes its determination to meet the needs of women of all ages, cultures and abilities. Bringing an inclusive diverse population into programs and membership is the feature that results in an influential organization that mirrors the community.

Goals:

  • Center DEI in all aspects of AAUW-NY, from planning and policies to practices and programming.
  • Develop, promote, and encourage a diverse membership throughout AAUW-NY branches.

Strategies:

  • Invite diverse speakers and guests to branch programs; turn them into members; consider funding their first year if possible.
  • Include the diversity statement on all printed materials such as the branch newsletter and membership flyers.
  • Include components of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all programs.
  • Ensure that all AAUW meeting places are handicapped accessible.
  • Appoint a diversity officer or partner with a sister branch and share diversity officers with the responsibility of including a diversity component in all branch programs.
  • Send announcements of activities to the network of community organizations.
  • Include a brief diversity article in each issue of the branch newsletter. Topics can vary according to community activities, information regarding upcoming programs, highlight particular members, historic events, etc.

Outcome:

  • A vibrant, diverse branch with increased membership from historically oppressed and marginalized communities.

RESOURCES

AAUW National

The national website has a wealth of information from planning to implementing a DEI program. Need to know how to discuss a particular DEI topic or start the ball rolling? – click HERE for the toolkit.’

Branch Resources

Has your branch presented a program or developed material that is available to share? Consider posting them here.

External

Implicit Bias

Minimizing and Addressing Implicit Bias in the Workplace: Be Proactive,  Part 1. https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/17370

Minimizing and Addressing Implicit Bias in the Workplace: Be Proactive, Part 2. https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/17431

Project Implicit: The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures attitudes and beliefs that people may be unwilling or unable to report. There are several tests available, including Gender-Career, Age, Transgender, Skin Tone, etc. thttps://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html

What does my Head Scarf Mean to You? https://www.ted.com/talks/yassmin_abdel_magied_what_does_my_headscarf_mean_to_you?language=en

Microaggressions

Calling In: A Quick Guide on When and How https://everydayfeminism.com/2015/01/guide-to-calling-in/

Did you really just say that? https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/01/microaggressions

Killing Me Softly: A Game to Demonstrate How it Feels to Suffer Microaggressions by Fobazi M. Ettarh  http://fobettarh.github.io/Killing-Me-Softly/

Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory – Legal Defense Fund https://www.naacpldf.org/critical-race-theory-faq/

What is Critical Race Theory, and why is it under attack? Stephen Sawchuk, Education Week, May 18, 2021 (includes a continually updated map) https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05

Critical Race Theory: Fact v. Fiction: a two-part discussion with experts from around the country, facilitated by the Tompkins County (NY) Office of Human Rights.                              

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY0pGR448gg&t=133s                                                  

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi_RUbeg4oU&t=526s  

Land Acknowledgments

Are You Planning to do a Land Acknowledgment? https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/03/are-you-planning-to-do-land.html

Beyond Land Acknowledgment Series from Native Governance Center. Includes toolkit.   https://nativegov.org/news/beyond-land-acknowledgment-series/ 

I Regret It: Hayden King on Writing Ryerson University’s Territorial Acknowledgement :
‘I Regret It’: Hayden King on Writing Ryerson University’s Territorial Acknowledgement – Community Commons