Combating Racism on the Page and in the Workplace

A Panel Discussion with the Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity

Six years ago, when the Committee for Inclusion and Equity was just in the process of forming, we began a tradition. We hosted a dinner where we reached out to fellow members, primarily women and people of color, asking for their help in guiding our work. They did not disappoint. At our very first gathering, this group of smart, engaged activists shared their concerns, their criticisms and their good ideas for how our Guild could do better for members who had been overlooked and underserved for far too long.  This group, which we came to call the Diversity Alliance, grew and changed from year to year, but their value as both sounding board and generator of fresh initiatives, never failed us.

In more normal times (remember those?), we would be getting ready to host our annual Diversity Alliance event. But this year is different. Not just because of the pandemic that keeps us from meeting in person, but because of the inflection point we’ve reached in terms of social justice. This is a time when the word “alliance” takes on new meaning. When true allies have never been more necessary to make the point that Black Lives Matter. Inclusion matters. Representation matters. In that spirit, we invite the whole WGAE to be our Diversity Alliance event this year.

Please join us for this timely and enlightening presentation, with the west coast-based Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity, devoted to making all of us better allies.

We look forward to seeing you there.
Courtney Simon and Lisa Takeuchi Cullen
Co-chairs, Committee for Inclusion and Equity