AAUW Wisconsin Diversity

Vice President: Barbara Munson
Barb@munson.net

From our Diversity Vice President:

AAUW – WI Diversity Report

July 21, 2007

AAUW Mission
AAUW advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

AAUW Diversity Statement
In principle and practice, AAUW values and seeks diverse membership. There shall be no barriers to full participation in the organization on the basis of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or class.

I hope that we will continue to move toward realizing our goals of increasing diversity within each branch membership; encouraging branch involvement in local, state, regional, national diversity issues and initiatives; encouraging branches to create inclusive environments for members, guests, and speakers that will encourage open and receptive dialogue; and promoting AAUW Wisconsin’s “Doing Diversity” Initiative. We will continue to keep the dialogue alive in our communities and AAUW will become a stronger social justice agent throughout the state.

This year I would like to see the State Board take leadership in developing partnerships with ethnic organizations that promote education for girls and women throughout the state. I propose that we invite some of these organizations to our convention to participate in panel presentation/s and breakout sessions that are solutions and network building in nature. On the State level we will be enacting the “Doing Diversity” Initiative that we are asking Branches to enact locally. Some potential partners might be Wisconsin Indian Education Association, Latinos Unidas, HOPE (Hmong Women’s support for education in Wausau). We will find partners through DPI as well. We have already made some strong partners through the Lt. Governor’s WW=P partnership, Yvonne Lumsden Dill’s Leadership initiative and our sponsorship of the LEAP young leader’s initiative. This year let’s grow our network at convention. I think that Libby Burmaster could be invited to speak about equity issues at our convention as well, she is a strong advocate for diversity. This year let’s show that we value diversity in our membership and in our communities by bringing the dialogue to our convention.

Special thanks to Nancy Slinde, who presented the “Doing Diversity” Dialogue at our state convention in April.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara E. Munson
Vice President, Diversity