Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Race, Social Justice, and Interpretation Panel Discussion


Presented June 25, 2020
Click here to view the recording
Recent events have thrust issues of race and social justice to the forefront of the national conversation, but systemic inequities have been obstacles for generations. Interpreters are uniquely positioned to effect positive change, but what actions can we take, regardless of where we work or what we interpret, to overcome injustice, not only at our sites but throughout society? This panel discussion highlights accomplished interpreters who work to serve underserved populations, promote cultural understanding, and amplify voices for positive change.

A Statement from NAI

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core to the mission of the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), an organization dedicated to advancing the profession of culture, heritage, and nature interpretation.

We are heartbroken at recent incidents of systemic injustice in our nation, and at the pain events happening across the country have caused in our communities. The senseless murder of George Floyd in plain sight has elicited raw emotions, and highlighted inequities that plague us. Hatred and racism have no place in our society, and it is our responsibility as interpreters to use our voices against them.

We have been issued a challenge and it is time for us to rise up as a nation and meet it. We must challenge our own preconceptions. We must challenge ourselves to make the world a better place through our work as interpreters and the choices we make as individuals.

We have the power to effect positive change. It begins inside all of us, and it takes place through action. Interpreters are uniquely positioned to help grow understanding and begin to heal a broken nation. The lessons we convey at historical sites help us to learn from our past—to see where we’ve come from and where we can go from here. Our cultural sites help us appreciate each other, the beautiful diversity of thought and music and art that has the power to make us whole. And our natural sites offer the opportunity to heal, to reflect on the beauty that surrounds us.

Interpreters have the opportunity to be part of the solution. We will do that with open hearts through understanding, inclusion, and respect.

Interpreters are the tellers and facilitators of stories for our communities and public lands. As we manage and interpret public lands, historic sites, nature centers, zoos, and museums protected for all, we are unashamed about promoting diversity and inclusion. NAI and our profession includes and empowers the voices of People of Color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities, and people across the gender spectrum. We strive to be cognizant of privilege. We embrace the value of diversity and work for full representation on public lands.

WEBINARS

Visit this page for access to NAI webinars that have addressed DEI issues. 

ONLINE RESOURCES

Organizations

CENTER FOR DIVERSITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT The Center for Diversity & the Environment harnesses the power of racial and ethnic diversity to transform the U.S. environmental movement by developing leaders, catalyzing change within institutions & building alliances. We envision a healthy, flourishing planet and society that sustainably and equitably meets the needs of all through an environmental movement that is diverse, inclusive, successful, vibrant, and relevant, taking into account the needs, perspectives, and voices of all.

GREEN 2.0
Green 2.0 is an initiative dedicated to increasing racial diversity across mainstream environmental NGOs, foundations and government agencies. The Green 2.0 working group advocates for data transparency, accountability and increased resources to ensure that these organizations increase their diversity.


GREEN LEADERSHIP TRUST
The Green Leadership Trust is a network of people of color and indigenous people who serve on environmental boards. They work to build the environmental movement’s power by diversifying its leadership through promotion of best practices and other resources and by driving the leadership pipeline.


INCLUSEUM
The Incluseum advances new ways of being a museum through dialogue, community building and collaborative practice related to inclusion in museums. The vision is to build community, share research, and build “next practices” around inclusion and justice in museums.

INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF SITES OF CONSCIENCE
The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (“the Coalition”) is the only worldwide network of Sites of Conscience. Members and partners remember a variety of histories and come from a wide range of settings, but they are all united by their common commitment to connect past to present, memory to action. The Coalition supports members and other cultural institutions through grants, trainings, tool kits, and other tools to support social justice through dialog, truth-telling, and shared memory. (includes toolkits for facilitated dialog)

IPAGE (Science Museum of Minnesota)
iPAGE is the Science Museum of Minnesota’s leadership program for informal STEM institution (ISI) professionals from across the United States. Dedicated to supporting diversity, promoting inclusion, increasing access, and achieving equity in the ISI sector, iPAGE is designed to help leaders bring about meaningful and lasting institutional change. 


MASS ACTION (Museum As Site for Social Action)
The Minneapolis Institute of Art, in collaboration with stakeholders across the field, is creating a platform for public dialogues on a variety of topics and issues affecting our communities locally and globally, leading to actionable practices for greater equity and inclusion in our institutions.

NATIONAL COALITION BUILDING INSTITUTE: NCBI
The National Coalition Building Institute is an international non-profit leadership development network. Rooted in an understanding of individual, community, and systemic change, NCBI leaders work with public and private organizations to further: Cultural competence, Collaboration and partnerships, Effective relationships within and across group identities.

NORTH AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION-DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION GROUP ON EEPRO
You don’t have to be a member to create an account and join.


OUTDOOR AFRO
Outdoor Afro is the nation’s leading, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires African American connections and leadership in nature. Their goal is to “help people take better care of themselves, our communities, and our planet!”

PROJECT IMPLICIT AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Project Implicit is a non-profit organization and international collaboration between researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition - thoughts and feelings outside of conscious awareness and control. The goal of the organization is to educate the public about hidden biases and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the Internet. 


SACRED PLACES INSTITUTE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (SPI)
SPI is an Indigenous-led, community-based organization and an Affiliate of the Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples, an Indigenous-led nonprofit organization with nearly forty years of experience supporting Indigenous Peoples and organizations around the world.

SHOWING UP FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
SURJ is a national network of groups and individuals organizing White people for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ moves White people to act as part of a multi-racial majority for justice with passion and accountability. We work to connect people across the country while supporting and collaborating with local and national racial justice organizing efforts. SURJ provides a space to build relationships, skills and political analysis to act for change.


TEACHING TOLERANCE
Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators—teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners—who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.


THE AVARNA GROUP
A diversity, equity and inclusion consulting firm that shares free resources for organizations. https://theavarnagroup.com/


THE PEOPLE’S INSTITUTE FOR SURVIVAL AND BEYOND
A collective of anti-racist, multicultural community organizers and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social transformation through various programs and workshops, like the signature Undoing Racism Community Organizing workshop.

YOUTH OUTSIDE
Youth Outside strives to ensure that the lived experience of all youth is honored as part of the outdoor experience. They provide grantmaking, capacity-building and training to promote healthy lives and inspire future champions of the planet. 

 

Resources

Understanding Bias, Privilege, & Social Justice Issues

Purdue University Global
Six Top Trends for DEI in 2022

NY TIMES
Museums Have a Social Justice Role to Play

CODE SWITCH
NPR podcast about race and identity. 

DECODED WITH FRANCHESCA RAMSEY
Short videos about issues of bias, discrimination, and popular culture. 


HAAS INSTITUTE FOR A FAIR AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETY [UC BERKELEY]
The faculty, staff, researchers, and affiliates of the Haas Institute work together with multidisciplinary approaches to learn, research, and construct solutions for society's most pressing issues. Our programs and initiatives are all designed to effect transformative change.

IMPLICIT ASSOCIATION TESTS
Test your own hidden bias with this free online test sponsored by Harvard University and taken by millions of people in the past 15 years.


POLICY LINK
A national research and action institute advancing economic and social equity by Lifting Up What Works. Site includes an equity manifesto, resources, and tools for equity measurement strategies, benchmarks, and desired outcomes.

PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Drafted in 1996 during a meeting hosted by Southwest Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (SNEEJ), Jemez, New Mexico, Dec. 1996, the Jemez Principles provide 6 guiding principles for democratic organizing. 


PRIVILEGE 101: A QUICK AND DIRTY GUIDE

WHAT MY BIKE HAS TAUGHT ME ABOUT WHITE PRIVILEGE

Interacting with Participants/Visitors

100 RACE-CONSCIOUS THINGS YOU CAN SAY TO YOUR CHILD TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE

INCLUDING THE 21ST CENTURY FAMILY

INCLUSION TIPS FOR OUTDOOR PROGRAM STAFF

INSTRUCTOR BIAS SELF ASSESSMENT
This checklist is great for outdoor, experiential, and environmental educators (as well as traditional educators) to assess how bias might be manifesting in their teaching and to mitigate bias in any classroom, indoor and outside.


Increasing Accessibility

PROGRAMMATIC ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INTERPRETIVE MEDIA

UNIVERSAL DESIGN FOR MUSEUMS
Created by the Museum of Science Boston 


WELCOMING ALL VISITORS: MUSEUMS, ACCESSIBILITY, AND VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES

Challenging Racism

GOVERNMENT ALLIANCE ON RACE & EQUITY [GARE]
Features issue papers and resource guides on how to advance racial equity in government settings. 


RACE FORWARD [THE CENTER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE]
Brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity.


RACIAL EQUITY TOOLS

Offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level.


Engaging Diverse Communities

COMMUNITY PLANNING TOOLKIT

THE COMMUNITY TOOL BOX

THE FIELD GUIDE TO HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN

VISITORS OF COLOR

Improving Workplace Culture and Policies

BIAS INTERRUPTERS
Bias Interrupters are tweaks to basic business systems (hiring, performance evaluations, assignments, promotions, compensations etc.) that correct implicit bias in the workplace. 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION RESOURCES FROM INDEPENDENT SECTOR
Resources include definitions, business case for diversity, recruitment, selection and retention best practices, and data on non-profit diversity. 


ED TECH HIRING TOOLKIT

FACING CHANGE: INSIGHTS FROM THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS’ DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION WORKING GROUP

MASS ACTION READINESS ASSESSMENT AND TOOLKIT

SEEING AND NAMING RACISM IN NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS 


TOOLKIT FOR MUSEUMS WORKING TOWARDS INCLUSION

TOOLKIT TO MITIGATE BIAS IN RECRUITMENT AND HIRING

TRANSGENDER INCLUSION IN THE WORKPLACE: RECOMMENDED POLICIES AND PRACTICES

Facebook Groups and Pages

AFRICAN AMERICAN NATURE & PARKS EXPERIENCE 


AMERICAS LATINO ECO FESTIVAL

CENTER FOR DIVERSITY & THE ENVIRONMENT

DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS

DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS NATIONAL SPEAKERS BUREAU

ECOINCLUSIVE

LATINO OUTDOORS 


LGBT NETWORK IN THE PARKS (closed group)


LGBTQ OUTDOOR SUMMIT

MUSEUM HUE

QUEERING THE MUSEUM PROJECT 


URBAN EE COLLECTIVE

VOCES VERDES—LATINO LEADERSHIP IN ACTION

WHITE NONSENSE ROUNDUP

Additional Resource Lists

15+ TOOLS, FRAMEWORKS, AND RESOURCES TO CHALLENGE RACISM [COMPASSPOINT]
Round-up of resources to further learning and inspire leaders to challenge racism in themselves and others.

AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSUEMS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION RESOURCE LIST 


GREEN LEADERSHIP TRUST BEST PRACTICES LIBRARY

UNDERSTANDING WHITENESS AND PRIVILEGE, RESOURCES COMPILED BY DR. ROBIN DIANGELO

EQUITY RESOURCES PAGE [COLLECTIVE IMPACT FORUM]
A list of resources, tools, writings, and related media on equity and inclusion.


MUSEUMS AND RACE READING LIST

SOCIAL JUSTICE & MUSEUMS RESOURCE LIST 

UNIVERSAL DESIGN REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR CULTURAL FACILITIES