This post was produced in collaboration with the Association of Science and Technology Centers.

Museums across the country are navigating a critical moment: the urgent need to challenge systemic racism in our communities and institutions alongside the interconnected effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic stress. To effectively respond to the public health crisis and to transform into actively antiracist organizations, museums must lead with equity-centered work.

CCLI (Cultural Competence Learning Institute) has developed a free, four-part series to provide resources and concrete steps for museums to activate diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) efforts within their institutions and in their roles as trusted community hubs. Each of the four webinars in the series will cover the process of transforming intention to action, from equity and inclusion statements and hiring practices to community engagement and supporting DEAI committees.

• Moving from Statements to Action (July 23): An equity and inclusion statement can be a foundational element for an organization’s DEAI work. But what comes next? This session will focus on how these statements are guiding principles for action. View the recording.
• Building and Nurturing a DEAI Committee (August 20): Establishing a DEAI committee or task force can be a critical step in prioritizing equity work. How can museums support DEAI committees to most effectively elevate equity? This session will focus on best practices to build and nurture DEAI committees. View the recording.
• Effective and Equitable Community Engagement (October 29): As museums build partnerships throughout the communities they serve, how can they ensure community engagement that serves all? This session will focus on inclusive partnership-building, outreach, and engagement practices. View the recording.
• Restructuring with Equity in Mind (January 14, 2021 @ 3pm EDT): As museums navigate the enduring impacts of Covid-19 on staff teams, how can they restructure team roles, emphasizing skills, experience and initiative? This session will focus on the intersection of equity, HR practice and organizational change. View the recording.

Each 60-minute webinar will feature speakers from across the museum community, a short presentation of data from CCLI’s forthcoming National Landscape Study, and Q&A session for participants to share their challenges and experiences.

Participants are welcome to join individually, or with a team of colleagues. Each webinar will offer a deep dive into the topic to deliver concrete, actionable steps and resources toward organizational development. Register for one webinar or the whole series!

CCLI (Cultural Competence Learning Institute) is a partnership among Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, the Association of Science and Technology Centers, the Association of Children’s Museums, and the Garibay Group. CCLI helps museum leaders catalyze diversity and inclusion efforts in their institutions.