We invite all NMEA members to help develop NMEA’s equity vision and action plan.
This is an early step in a multi-phase process that works towards making NMEA more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. This work is a massive undertaking and we need “all hands on deck.” NMEA has made efforts to expand our audiences for many years, and that work continues to explore the lack of racial diversity within the association (a reflection of our field more broadly). We got an incredible push at the 2019 NMEA Annual Meeting in Durham, NH to make greater progress. The two pandemics we are currently confronting—COVID-19 and structural racism—add urgency to our efforts towards change.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ad-hoc Committee was created from the energy in Durham to generate a vision statement and action plan for NMEA. We hope that you will join the conversations and contribute to the transformative work ahead.
Phase 1. NMEA leaders and members articulate how we envision equity and inclusion look in the association, and the changes we need to make.
Phase 2. Use conversations from Phase 1 to craft the statement and action plan. Expand the ad-hoc committee (currently only Lindsay Patterson & Lynn Tran).
Phase 3. Use documents created in Phase 2 to establish the mechanisms to enact the plan and hold ourselves accountable.
We are currently in the beginning of Phase 1, which consists of four rounds of virtual conversations. The final conversation (Round 4) is for all NMEA members + Rounds 1, 2, 3 people who missed their meetings. Round 4 is scheduled for Thursday, July 30th (10 am HT, 1 pm PT, 4 pm ET)
Your commitment for Round 4 conversations:
Attend the 2-hour virtual conversation on Thursday, July 30th (10 am Hawaii, 1 pm West Coast, 4 pm East Coast)
Be open-minded and whole-hearted in the conversation
Additionally, there will be a brief conversation during the NMEA Virtual Annual Meeting and Sessions on Monday, July 27th. You are welcomed to attend one or both conversations.
Please register in advance for the July 30th conversation via Zoom here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. We would greatly appreciate it if you could be a part of this initial dialogue.
We look forward to any input you can provide.