The Diversity and Inclusion Committee spent the final months of 2023 revising their charter to ensure members feel more than included. The new charter recognizes that ‘Belonging’ is also essential to creating an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their unique insights and ideas. With the new charter, the committee was renamed the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee.
The updated charter outlines the DEIB Committee’s goals and objectives, as well as establishes guidelines for M3AAWG’s meeting operations, programming development, and training initiatives. This ensures that we are effectively addressing our members’ needs and expectations in creating an environment where people of all different backgrounds, identities, cultures, experiences, and expertise feel supported, encouraged, welcomed, and celebrated as a member of our organization and community.
The DEIB Committee would like to share a portion of their new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Charter below.
We will actively seek out diverse perspectives and voices in our meeting planning and programming. We will strive to ensure that our meeting reflects the diversity of our attendees and the broader community.
We will commit to establishing an atmosphere of belonging for all members free from discrimination, harassment, or bullying of any kind. We will not tolerate any behavior that undermines the dignity or respect of any individual or group.
We will advocate for accommodations to ensure that our meeting is as accessible as possible to all attendees.
We will provide training and resources to M3AAWG staff and attendees to help them recognize and address issues related to diversity, belonging and inclusion.
We will actively seek feedback from our members and the broader community to ensure that we are meeting their needs and expectations related to diversity, belonging and inclusion.
As M3AAWG Board of Directors Chairperson, Janet Jones, noted in her recent 20th Anniversary blog, “We know that organizations that recognize the value of diversity and embrace differences are more successful in accomplishing their goals.” If we can foster a culture of respect, collaboration, and openness, where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their unique insights and ideas we believe we can create a more effective and impactful community in our shared mission to combat online abuse.
If you are a M3AAWG member looking to get involved with the DEIB Committee, you may view the full Charter and Join the Committee here.