DIVERSITY

Sebronette Barnes, Diversity Chair
diversity@aauwpa.org

Diversity Statement:
In principle and in practice, AAUW values and seeks a 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.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM STATE DIVERSITY CHAIR

BOOKS
• African American and Latino Women Share their Stories of Success

VIDEO TAPES
• 4 R’s ----Readin, Riting, Rithmetic and Respect
A 24 minute videotape with training guide and supplemental materials, to illustrate what parents, administrators, teachers and students are doing to teach respect for diversity and what YOU can do to affect change and build stronger, safer schools.

• Stopping the Hate with Harmony
A 24 minute video with training guides and supplemental materials; what you can do to affect change, reduce tension and build stronger, safer communities.

• SU VOTO ES SU VOZ
A 12 minute educational video presentation (in Spanish) about the voting process, information on how to register to vote, where and when to vote, how a voting machine works, and more.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE FROM ASSOCIATION

Diversity Outreach at Association:

Adelante Book Club
Book clubs are a fun, social way to open a dialogue on women, diversity, and change. Many AAUW members share a love of reading, and that love, partnered with a desire to seek out books written from diverse perspectives, launched a new component of AAUW's diversity outreach program in 1996 — AAUW's ¡Adelante! Book of the Month Club.

Since then, AAUW members have enjoyed exploring new ideas and perspectives through monthly discussions, both in person and through e-mail. ¡Adelante! book groups meet in book stores, libraries, other public venues, and online, gathering both members and nonmembers to talk about issues of social justice based on the month’s selection.

AAUW National Organization on Disability Recognition Award
AAUW is one of 40 national non-disability organizations working with the National Organization on Disability, demonstrating a commitment to advancing the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in community life.

Through the National Partnership Program, N.O.D. encourages AAUW state and branch programs that increase outreach to people with disabilities in the communities they serve, while encouraging greater participation by members and volunteers with disabilities throughout state and branch activities.

Woman to Woman Community Dialogs on Social Justice
Woman-to-Woman is a community dialogue sponsored by an AAUW branch and at least one partner organization. The program gives diverse participants an opportunity to identify local issues of common concern, form new alliances, and gain new perspectives. Topics are determined at the local level under the umbrella of social justice. A strong Woman-to-Woman program culminates in action to address the topic at hand. To get involved, contact a local AAUW branch or e-mail program@aauw.org.

Association Diversity Toolkit
AAUW’s Diversity Tool Kit was released at the AAUW 1999 Convention. Members can use this tool kit to become more effective leaders and catalysts for change in their communities. Branch and state leaders and all members can use the tool kit, a synthesis and update of previous ¡Adelante! modules, to integrate diversity efforts into every aspect of their AAUW work. In the first chapters, members learn more about their own attitudes toward multiculturalism, the readiness of their group to expand outreach, and ways that groups can better address the concerns and meet the needs of the wide range of people in your community. The last chapters offer practical tips, many from the best practices of branches and states, for integrating diversity into all that we do. For the complete tool kit, see your branch or state president or order a copy from ShopAAUW online or at 800/225-9998.

Links of Interest - Diversity

Human Rights and Social Justice

• www.tolerance.org,   a principal online destination for people interested in dismantling bigotry and creating, in hates stead, communities that value diversity.
• www.phrc.state.pa.us is the link to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, promoting equal opportunity and identifying discrimination, prejudice and bias. A guide to questions about the commission and its role in Pennsylvania; investigating complaints of discrimination and monitoring bias-related crimes and tension within communities
• Pennsylvania Inter-Agency Task Force on civil Tension (www.stopbias.org) is a group of governmental, law enforcement and private agencies working together to both prevent and respond to bias-related incidents in Pennsylvania.
• www.adl.org – their mission is to stop the defamation of the Jewish people…. To secure justice and fair treatment to all. Priorities are to gather, analyze and disseminate intelligence on extremism and hate activity, enhance law enforcement’s ability to combat serious threats and provide assistance, support and resources on security to the Jewish community.
• Amnesty International is a world wide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights (www.amnesty.org)
• United Nations Commission on Human Rights (www.un.org/rights)

ENGAGE IN DIVERSITY

1. Begin an ! Adelante! book discussion group
   Suggested readings on Association website
   Other suggested readings to follow

2. Begin an International Relations Group
   Discuss current events, history
   Suggested speakers- College professors, teachers

3. Attend ethnic/religious/cultural events sponsored by groups other than your own.    Expand your educational horizons.  Form a coalition with other groups. Senior citizens, Hispanic, Middle Easter, Asian, Islamic, disabled, or of a different sexual persuasion.

4. Form or join a group that focuses on  specific  diversity concerns in your community, for example bilingual education in local schools

5. Work with the branch to discern how diversity can fit into a community action project.

6. When you dine or shop in ethnically oriented establishments, talk to the owners or employees.  Discover if they or their family are eligible to join or are interested in AAUW concerns.  They may act as consultants or present a program or initiative.

7. Help with local literacy and English language mentoring skills.

8. When diversity works, share the information.

9. Study a culture

10. Diversity dining out- select a restaurant from a different culture, research the culture, and share the experience with branch members as a program and in the newsletter. Or have ethnic dessert night, always fun.

11. Celebrate Black history Month

12. Team up with the League of Women Voters to register women of other cultures to register to vote.  Video  (in Spanish ) available form State Diversity Resources

13. Learn about the Study Guide and Citizenship Test given to non- citizens; makes a great branch activity and you might learn something.

14. Establish an internet with an IFUW contact in another country. Read emails at branch meetings and encourage branch members to join in.  A good tool to spur interest. Those without email access can write letters the old fashioned way. Also includes elderly and homebound members

Suggested Readings - General:
My Name is Asher Lev    Chaim Potak
Up from Slavery  Booker T. Washington
Tortilla Curtain   T.C.Boyle

Suggested Readings on Islam:

Islam  Karen Armstrong    
Women and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate  Leila Ahmed
The Red Tent   Anita Diamont
Getting God’s Ear   Eleanor Doumato
Daughter of Persia  Sattareh Farman Farmaian
In Search of Islamic Feminism Elizabeth Fernea Warnoch
Shattering the Myth   Bruce Lawrence
Qur’an and Woman   Amina Waddud
The Veil and the Male Elite   Harriet Logan

Suggested Activities:

Diversity for website Fall 2007

ADOPT A CAUSE
Bina Roy Partnerships in Development Programme (BRPID) encourages international solidarity and partnerships between IFUW federations and associations.  Its primary goal is to support projects empowering women and girls through education and leadership development. Contributing to these community projects made it possible to help women and girls in 27 countries in 2005.   (www.ifuw.org/brpid)