Hi Rachel,
I am sorry to read about your current layoff situation, thank you, for sharing that with the community. It has been difficult and I hope the sector will make changes for the future so these layoffs could be avoided.
In regards to online IDEA-themed courses or conversations, it looks like Timothy gave some excellent suggestions to check out. I would also suggest looking in your own backyard at local nonprofits sharing their work with the community and see if you can connect with one of them. Here in SW Michigan, we have a nonprofit capacity-building organization that hosts a plethora of different IDEA-based workshops; trauma-informed community, racial healing events, accessibility & ablism, etc... These opportunities are free for community members in the region, but I am aware similar organizations charge a fee for participating.
I'd also check out additional professional organizations. I know our state museum association has hosted a number of different chats and colleague circles for free or low discounted rates during the pandemic. Along with NAI (National Association for Interpretation) has hosted a lot of free opportunities on their social media pages.
Lastly, another suggestion for books or articles would be start with one aspect of IDEA you are passionate about and then go from there. There is so much variety in the work being published and if you try to tackle it all at once could be overwhelming. An article was shared with me a few months ago I found to be helpful,
Activating Diversity and Inclusion: A Blueprint for Museum Educators as Allies and Change Makers by Wendy Ng, Syrus Marcus Ware, & Alyssa Greenberg in the Journal of Museum Education.
Good luck on your journey! I am happy to provide additional thoughts related to my own journey of allyship. Just reach out!
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Megan Osetek
Pronouns: She/Her
Interpretation Manager
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
Kalamazoo MI
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-25-2021 02:34 PM
From: Rachel Schwartzman
Subject: Home DEAI Instruction
Hello Community,
I am among the many that have been laid off from my aquarium/museum due to COVID. I know that a lot of institutions are putting on DEAI trainings for their staff. I am wondering how I can get more DEAI training at home while unemployed. Are there virtual trainings/courses I can sign up for? Are there books I should read? I would like to continue my professional development on this while unemployed. I am anxious to get back into a museum and keep doing this work!
Thanks for the help!
-Rachel
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Rachel Schwartzman
Former Supervisor at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
Monterey, CA
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