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HomeDEI & Justice Committee
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and INCLUSION POLICY

 

LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization's current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.


Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all people. The League is an organization that respects and values the richness of our community and our members. The collective sum of our individual differences and life experiences represents not only our culture, but our reputation and the organization's mission and achievements as well.


LWVTC Board Approved 8/28/24


Land Acknowledgement

Today, we acknowledge the original stewards of the land we call Thurston County: the Nisqually, the Chehalis, and the Squaxin Island people who thrived here for thousands of years. We also confront the truth that their land was unjustly taken, causing generations of trauma to its people.

 

Acknowledgement is just the beginning. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves on the history of these tribal nations, on our joint history, and on the role they continue to play in the Thurston County community.  We must create authentic connections with our neighbors, amplify their voices, recognize the unique concerns they face, and support their continued call for justice. 

DEI & JUSTICE STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS


 

Join us: 

Thursday, April 10 

On zoom  6:30-8:00p

 

Agenda:

  Strategic Planning Conversation - Come to our next meeting with measurable goals for getting more members involved in DEI & J work 

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 845 4221 0315
Passcode: 988669

 

DEI Upcoming Events: 

 

Conversations about Civics

We met on Zoom on Saturday April 5th and restructured our meetings to include community events and time to debrief and plan actions.
Next meeting - April 12th - Meet us at ASHHO Cultural Center
for: Walk with Erin Jones 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at
ASHHO  5757 Tumwater, WA 98512

On May 3rd Join us for in depth conversations as we create a learning community for our members.  To register, members have to set up their League accounts via our website to register and receive meeting packet and the zoom link.
Go to the homepage and click on Conversations about Civics under EVENTS to register.



Thurston Forward:
A Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit for Progress

 

Moving forward together to create a more welcoming, equitable, and inclusion community for all of Thurston County.


Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/ThurstonForward2025

 

Join us for an interactive and engaging Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DElB)

Summit designed to foster collaborative action among community leaders and

individuals who are passionate about making a difference.

We invite all who live, work, study, or play in Thurston County and are committed to advocating

for marginalized groups to come together and take part in solutions. This summit

is an opportunity to engage with others who share a vision for a more inclusive,

equitable, and just community.

 

• Engage in workshops

• Share challenges and strategies

• Assess areas for improvement and plan goals for future collaboration

• Network with organizations and individuals committed to DEIB

• Continue community conversations leading to lasting change

• Lunch and snacks provided



Registration link: https://tinyurl.com/ThurstonForward2025  

 

DEI Recent Events:

Committing to Equitable, Inclusive K-12 Schools:
An Informational Forum held March 04, 2025 can now be viewed.
WATCH FORUM

 

BOOK GROUP: Let’s Talk About Multicultural America
We  meet every other month to read  about people of various cultural, economic, indigenous, ethnic, racial,gender, and immigrant backgrounds to better understand the diversity around us. After our discussion,members suggest books they've read and appreciated for the next time. 

Next Meeting: June 10, 2025 6:30 PM Zoom Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87575505690?pwd=goOYEPloySbMuPb0qpfGxOIZ2f8ewG.1

Accordion Eulogies by Noé Álvarez 

 

DEI Resources  
THIS WHOLE SET OF RESOURCE LINKS NEED REVIEW, EDITING, ETC

 

DEFINITIONS


LWVWA Definitions 

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Links to inclusive language, including non-binary pronouns
Links to inclusive language, including non-binary pronouns
 American Psychological Association

MyPronouns.org

Racial Equity Tools Glossary

REFERENCES & resources

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Books
Books
  • Trailblazing Black Women of Washington State, Marilyn Morgan
  • How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, Clint Smith
  • The Sum Of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone And How We Can Prosper  Together,  Heather McGhee*
  • Murder At The Mission: A Frontier Killing, Its Legacy of Lies, And the Taking of the American West, Blaine Harden*
  • Against Civility: The Hidden Racism in our Obsession with Civility, Alex Zamalin*
  • Caste:The Origins of Our Discontent, Isabel Wilkerson*
  • The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander
  • Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates*
  • So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo*
  • Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People, Mahzarin Banaji
* Titles read by the Let's Talk About Race Book Group
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Articles
Articles
  • The Language of Anti-Racism (excerpted from, “Stay Woke, A People’s Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter," Candis Watts Smith and Tehema Lopez Bunyasi, February 2020
  • Before you rage against Critical Race Theory, it might be helpful to know what it is, Marcus Harrison Green, February 2022
  • The Dictionary Definition of Racism Has to Change, John McWhorter, The Atlantic June 2020
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates Revisits the Case for Reparations, The New Yorker, June 2019
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Movies & Websites
Movies & Websites
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Recorded Workshops
Recorded Workshops

CIVICS & CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EDUCATION

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The State We're In - Your guide to state, tribal, and local government
The State We're In - Your guide to state, tribal, and local government
The League produces two compelling civics textbooks, The State We're In: Washington. A new version is designed for elementary grades 3-5, and  the eighth edition of the original is for grades 6 and up.

LEARN MORE
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Office of Superintendent Public Instruction (OSPI)
Office of Superintendent Public Instruction (OSPI)
Washington SEL Implementation Brief: Focus on Culturally Responsive Practices

Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Education Civic Education


LWV dei event recordings

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A Look at Local Tribal Approaches to Health Care
A Look at Local Tribal Approaches to Health Care

Link to recorded forum coming soon.

LWVTC Event
Featured speakers:

  • Vicki Lowe, Executive Director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington State (AIHC)
  • Angela Tobias, Family Medicine Doctor and former Skokomish and Squaxin Tribe physician
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Native American Women and the Suffrage Movement
Native American Women and the Suffrage Movement

 LWVUS Webinar - Native American Women and the Suffrage Movement


COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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The League of Women Voters of Thurston County is proud to co-sponsor events and educational opportunities to:
The League of Women Voters of Thurston County is proud to co-sponsor events and educational opportunities to:
Amplify concerns and  work together with community partners to face inequities of historically marginalized people. 

Act when we can, after study and based on the teachings of those with knowledge of appropriate actions that are responsive to community.

Community partnerships have included:
 

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info@LWVThurston.org

P.O. Box 2203
Olympia WA 98507