DEI & Justice Committee Summary
FIRST MEETING: Dec. 2020
Activities throughout 2021-2023
The first months of 2021 we formed the purpose of the committee. Time was spent reflecting on individual and shared history. Identifying the importance of addressing the League’s shortcomings, assessing where we are and planning for the future. We also took time during meetings to share what brought us to the league and why this particular committee was essential.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the Thurston LWV Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEI & Justice) Committee is to lead through the lens of equity and make a commitment to:
- Recognize systemic and institutional racism exists at all levels and is endemic within our political and social order, including history of the LWV.
- Deepen our understanding of the complexities of community issues and make recommendations to the LWVTC Board of Directors regarding public policy.
- As individual community members, be well informed, advocate for and support actions within our community promoting racial, social, and economic justice.
- Become educated and engaged to advocate and promote equality and diversity within the LWV organization.
- Connecting with community organizations sharing common values, issues and advocacy strategies which advance the principles and practices of this policy.
- Coordinate with and gain knowledge from community organizations that encourage diversity and awareness of justice-related issues within the Thurston LWV community
- Develop educational programs and participate in activities offered by others to expand knowledge, perspectives and mindfulness to hone Thurston’s DEI and Justice lens.
Throughout the past three years we have explored and facilitated discussions regarding DEI and Justice related topics; scheduled community speakers and shared links for additional reading/learning including:
- Vocabulary and Definitions
- Reparations – Past, Present and Complexities
- Disabilities and Inclusion
- Power and Privilege
Community speakers and topics:
- Police accountability reforms that were signed into law 2021. State Representative Jamila Taylor (30th Legislative District) and Chair of the Black Members' Caucus.
- Tribal Health Care Forum - Vicki Lowe, Executive Director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington State (AIHC) and Angela Tobias, Family Medicine Doctor and former Skokomish and Squaxin Tribe physician. Presentation focused on legal and historical foundations, and current status of the tribal health care system. Learned about roles of tribal sovereignty and culture in health outcomes and gained insight into the role that tribal culture plays in strengthening tribal health and well-being.
- Program “Starting Young: Civics Education & Equity in the Classroom.” Mary Ziegert, 4th grade teacher, North Thurston Elementary Schools. Presented on using equitable and inclusion practices in elementary schools. Discussion included debunking the term Critical Race Theory and how it’s used as a political attack on DEI-related classroom efforts.
- Trauma affecting youth and results of racism, inequities and the “isms” on systems of justice, health care and education. Larry Jefferson, Director of the WA Office of Public Defense. Crystal Champion, Health Systems Consultant, Department of Health.
- Teaching culturally-appropriately Native American history via dance and other indigenous arts. Angelina Nockni teacher, consultant and member of Diné and Colville tribes.
- City of Olympia’s efforts addressing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. Olivia Salazar de Breaux, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Specialist with the City of Olympia’s Parks, Arts and Recreation Parks spaces, programming & art. Keli Drake, Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator.
- Refugee experience across language and cultural barriers while transitioning through systems of government. Kia Kham Lee, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Analyst, City of Federal Way.
- Voter Education and Outreach involving Hispanic and Latino populations, regarding voting initiatives, voter education, and outreach efforts. Lucy Barefoot, Office of Secretary of State Elections Division; Dianna Torres Angulo, President of the Hispanic Roundtable; and María Sigüenza, Executive Director of the Washington Commission on Hispanic Affairs.
- Merritt Long. Author and local leader, My View From the Back of the Bus.
- Marilyn Morgan, Author, Trailblazing Black Women of Washington State.
In-person events:
April 2023
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Racial Justice & Belonging: A Community Conversation with Local Leaders. What Jurisdictions Are Doing to Create a More Equitable Thurston County. Panelists: City of Lacey Commission on Equity: Shannon Kelley-Fong, Assistant City Manager; Commission on Equity Chair Cliff Brown (2021-2025); and Commissioner Dr. Thelma Jackson (2021-2024). City of Olympia Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice & Belonging: Tobi Hill-Meyer, DEI Programs Manager. City of Tumwater: Mayor Debbie Sullivan, Mayor and District 6 representative to the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Cabinet. Thurston Board of County Commissioners Racial Equity and Inclusion Council: Ramiro Chavez, County Manager.
Book signing and presentations with:
Dec. 2022 Merritt Long. Author and local leader, My View From the Back of the Bus. at Panorama’s Pavilion.
Dec. 2023 Dr. Thelma Jackson, Author, local leader and LWVTC member, Blacks in Thurston County Washington 1950-1975: A Community Album. Co-sponsored with and hosted by United Churches of Olympia.
Some LWVTC members attended and met via the City of Tumwater’s 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge: https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/residents/21-day-racial-equity-challenge
In addition to DEI & Justice Committee activities, the LWVTC’s Let’s Talk About Race book group has met since 2019. Readers discuss books that explore implicit bias, inequity based on race and the intersectionality of race, sex, ablism, disability rights, trans and gay issues, economics and politics.
The Tribal Update Committee completed and published a two-year study of local tribes and formed contemporary positions. See your LWVTC handbook for more info. Also organized Thurston Area Tribal Nations and the Centennial Accord Forum in 2023, as well as scheduled on-site presentations with Nisqually and Squaxin Island tribes.
DEI related articles in the Voter newsletter each month.
2024 - 2025
February
New Life Baptist Church invited League members to celebrate Black History Month by attending the “pop-up” Black History Museum! Many League members visited the museum, spoke with Museum Curator, JoeAnne Taylor and contributed comments to the March Voter article.
The Untold Story of Women of Color and the League of Women Voters performance.Excerpts fromThe Untold Story of Women of Color and the League of Women Votersbook provided a historical account describing the struggles, and importance of Black women in the Suffrage Movement and the LWV. The Untold Story of Women of Color and the League of Women Voters was written by Carolyn Jefferson Jenkins, president of the LWVUS from 1998-2002. A brief performance based on the book was performed. Co-Sponsored with Thurston Community Media
March
Let’s Talk about Race Book Group, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. on zoom. The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History, by Ned Blackhawk
Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of South Puget Sound Annual Race Dialogue event to help make meaningful social change by skill-building and conversation to better address racism and the power imbalance that exists within our community. Creating coalitions and connections to dismantle or impact systems of unequal power. Co-sponsored with LWVTC and other community partners.
April
Second convening of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Racial Justice & Belonging: A Community Conversation with Local Leaders. What Jurisdictions Are Doing to Create a More Equitable Thurston County. Panelists: City of Lacey Commission on Equity: Shannon Kelley-Fong, Assistant City Manager; Commission on Equity Chair Cliff Brown (2021-2025); City of Olympia Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice & Belonging staff: Keli Drake, Tobi Hill-Meyer, Olivia Salazar de Breaux, Equity; DEI Programs Managers. City of Tumwater: Mayor Debbie Sullivan, Mayor and District 6 representative to the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Cabinet. Devi Ogden, Thurston County Equity Manager, Dr. Jen Freiheit Thurston County Public Health; Patrick O’Connor, Thurston County Public Defender.
June
Walk with Erin Jones. More than 20 League members joined Erin Jones and supporters of ASHHO demonstrating “Community Unity” along with more than 100 Thurston community members. This was after a disturbing racist verbal assault against people walking with Erin Jones during her monthly May 2024.
August
Co-Sponsored with Humanities WA and Timberland Library a book talk with Quin'nita Cobbins-Modica, author of “We Are Also In Bondage Here: Black Women in the Washington Civil Rights Movement. ” Discussion on history and stories of Black women in WA state challenge the narratives around this part of the country as an "exceptional" place and highlights longstanding systemic inequalities. Cobbins-Modica is a historian and educator who focuses on the history of Black women, social-activism, and politics in the American West.
October
Asian Pacific Islander Coalition organized Bridging Divides Through Effective Communication, to enhance communication skills, foster understanding across diverse groups, and develop leadership skills. Co-sponsored by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, YMCA, and LWVTC.
November & December
Organized Impromptu Trans-Remembrance gathering, recognizing that transgender people continue to be killed due to hatred, prejudice, and violence. Behind those numbers are people whose lives we valued and who we, as a society, failed to protect. Nearly 20 people from the League and from the trans community met at Schwartz's Coffee shop in downtown Olympia.
Conversations About Civics. Discussion ofThe State We’re In: Washingtonthrough a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Lens to deepen our understanding of civics and Washington State history. Discussions occurred regarding anti-racism and the illusion of equality in our country. Pre-meeting preparation included chapters in civics book and choosing additional resources watching videos, listening to podcasts and additional suggested materials.
2025
January
Programs of Work scheduled for the next 1-2 years with a focus on equity related studies for the State and Thurston Leagues:
- Housing
- Assisting LWV study of tribes in another county
- Continuing updating The State We’re In with accurate history and acknowledging contributions of overlooked populations
- Supporting equity and inclusion in schools
- A civic educational project to “demystify” running for office, promoting young adults and underrepresented citizens to run for public office
February
New Life Baptist Church invited League members to celebrate Black History Month by attending the “pop-up” Black History Museum. Many League members visited the museum, engaged with Dr. Thelma Jackson, Reverend Reaves as well as Museum Curator, JoeAnne Taylor and other community leaders.
March
Co-sponsored panel discussion, “Committing to Equitable, Inclusive K-12 Schools”.
Panelists represented Professional Educators Standards Board; WA State School Director’s Association; Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight & Accountability Committee and students. Partners included NAACP, Hispanic Roundtable, TOGETHER, ASHHO, South King County Discipline Coalition. Focused on how local schools can become more equitable and inclusive for all students.
Race Dialogue, APIC/SPS Race Dialogue and community partners including LWVTC. Session geared toward self-examination exchanges, dialogues, and civic engagement and actions to cultivate anti-racist communities. Fostering skill-building and conversation to better address community inequities.
May 2025
The inaugural Thurston Forward: A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit for Progress brought together more than 100 participants from across Thurston County. Organized by a volunteer coalition of community representatives, the Summit created a space for shared learning, reflection, and collaboration across lines of difference. With a Youth Panel; Workshops; and Community Conversations, the experience was designed to be the first Summit to be continued with collective vision.Community partners included Thurston County League of Women Voters;South Puget Sound Community College; Cities of Lacey; Olympia and Tumwater; Thurston County; Hispanic Round Table; City of Lacey Commission on Equity and Youth Commission on Equity; Monk Works, Asian Pacific Islanders Coalition/SPS; South Sound YMCA; YWCA of Olympia; & Multiculturally Minded. The next Thurston Forward DEI Summit is planned for May 1 (evening) and May 2 (full day), 2026 at South Puget Sound Community College, Lacey