Transformation Not Trend: Dismantling Institutional Racism in Public Libraries
Wednesday, March 21, 2018, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Pennsylvania Convention Center, 103 AB
How do you create concrete, meaningful, and lasting change to transform your library into an inclusive institution? Members of Kalamazoo Public Library’s Antiracism Transformation Team will lead participants in a deep analysis of institutional racism and its impact on libraries, and share their challenges and successes over three years of antiracist organizing. Participants will formulate strategies for creating institutional change.
At the end of this session, participants will:
1: Develop common language to understand and discuss institutional racism 2: Be able to give examples of how institutional racism affects library services, including within their own libraries 3: Create action items to implement in their own jobs or libraries
The session organizer(s) identified this session as appropriate for:
Level 2: People with some knowledge, who want to increase their understanding.
Tags: Preconference, Diversity, Equity of Access, Inclusion, Multicultural Services, Transforming Libraries
Presenters
Angela Fortin, Branch Librarian
Kalamazoo Public Library , Kalamazoo , MI
Angela Fortin is a branch librarian at the Kalamazoo (Michigan) Public Library and a member of KPL's Antiracism Transformation Team. She serves on the boards of Kalamazoo Refugee Resource Collaborative and ERAC/CE (Eliminating Racism & Creating/Celebrating Equity). She holds an M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Caitlin Hoag, Law and Reference Librarian
Kalamazoo Public Library , Kalamazoo , MI
Caitlin Hoag is the Law and Reference Librarian at the Kalamazoo Public Library (KPL) and a member of KPL?s Antiracism Transformation Team. She is also a board member for the Society for History and Racial Equity (SHARE) that serves SW Michigan. She graduated from Wayne State University in 2009 with a Masters of Library and Information Science.
Fernando Ospina, Co-Executive Director
ERAC/CE , Kalamazoo , MI
Fernando Ospina is Co-Executive Director of Eliminating Racism & Creating/Celebrating Equity (ERACCE) and an apprentice with Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training. He is an Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership Advisory Board member and facilitator of the Cradle Kalamazoo Cultural Competency subgroup. He holds Master's degrees in Conflict Resolution and Counseling Psychology from the University of Denver. He is driven by the desire to create a world in which people live harmonious, authentic lives.
Judi Rambow, Lead Librarian, Alma Powell and Eastwood Branches
Kalamazoo Public Library , Kalamazoo , MI
Judi Rambow is the Lead Librarian of the Alma Powell and Eastwood Branches of Kalamazoo Public Library and is a member of KPL's Antiracism Transformation Team. She graduated from Wayne State University with a Masters in Library and Information Science in 2006 and started working at KPL shortly after.
Costs
Registration for this preconference is now closed, but limited space may be available onsite.