Equity and Justice Committee

 “No one race alone can speak for all human experience or determine what constitutes fair, adequate, and inclusive stewardship of the environment... In order to enjoy and restore and protect these resources, we must struggle and build new communities of respect and awareness of our interdependence. In short, we must build a new inclusive environmental movement.”

-Aaron Mair, Past President, Sierra Club Board of Directors
 
The Equity and Justice Committee provides assistance to the Washington Chapter as a whole. At the Chapter level, we have formally adopted a Commitment to Equity. The assistance to the Chapter is customized for our specific challenges and opportunities as it works to transform from an historically white-led group to an equitable group that is a strong ally to communities of color. 
 
To this end we’ve developed tailored resources:
 
An Introductory Toolkit that can be included in standing meetings to promote dialogue about eight equity issues.
 
Equity Resources for Your Volunteer Work - These resources were designed with input from a Chapter-wide equity survey and include sections on:
  •   Inclusive Outreach
  •   Working with organizations representing communities of color
  •   Recruiting and engaging diverse volunteers and leaders
  •   Allyship
  •   Meeting Norms
For any questions, suggestions, or requests, please contact Diane Shisk, Equity Committee Chair, at dshisk@me.com.
 
MORE ABOUT THE RESOURCES:
 
The toolkit addresses eight initial topics: Sierra Club History, Why is Equity Important, Introduction to Racism, White Privilege, Microagressions, White Fragility, Allyship, and Environmental Justice. We are suggesting that these topics be covered at monthly meetings in 10-15 minute segments. For each segment, we’ve suggested one video, one article and one or more questions to be discussed by your group. The video can be watched together as a group; the article is read in advance.
 
Each segment will require only a small investment of time. Coming back to these topics month after month will yield the most long-term benefit. Alternately, you might prefer a different way of presenting the material by scheduling a special two to four hour evening or weekend session. 
 
For each of the topics -- Inclusive Outreach, Working with organizations representing communities of color, Recruiting and engaging diverse volunteers and leaders, Allyship, and Meeting Norms -- we have selected a resource document we believe may be the most helpful. We link to that document, summarize it, and write action steps you might take.
 
MORE RESOURCES:
 

Growing for Change

The Growing for Change equity and justice training curriculum has been adapted for online usage.  That means each of our committees and groups can use it as makes sense for you and at your own pace.  It is available on the Campfire learning platform, and access is available through staff and volunteer leaders.  

The National Sierra Club Equity Department worked diligently over this past year with Partners for Collaborative Change to develop this curriculum and to build a learning platform that will aid us in providing accessible learning materials for Sierra Club staff and volunteers.

We hope that Sierra Club volunteers and staff find this course engaging and filled with learning that will aid us all in helping create a more inclusive, just, and equitable organization.

Additional equity resources available include:
 
Please email Diane Shisk (Chair, Equity & Justice Committee) with feedback.