SLO EQUITY
Diversity Coalition’s Newsletter
PRESIDENT INTRO
By Cornel N Morton, Ph D
Greetings Friends!
We’re very excited to share with you this newsletter, filled with informative and timely updates, announcements and news related to programs, events and resources of interest. The Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County was founded in 2011 in response to a hate crime in our county. From the beginning the Coalition included concerned citizens, and local leaders from government, education, business, and nonprofit organizations.
Our mission is “to build and sustain a coalition that seeks a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community through advocacy and education”. Working in partnership with our partner organizations, local business and other nonprofits the coalition is an advocate, ally and resource for responding to acts of hate, bigotry, and discrimination. We invite you to participate in our programs.
Some of you are already active members and participate regularly in programs and activities offered through the Coalition. Thank you for your support. For those who are getting to know us, we invite you to join us through your membership, participation and support. The backbone of our efforts are supported through the generosity and commitment of Coalition partners, sponsors and individuals like you. Partner with us in creating and sustaining a community where diversity is valued and respected. Together we can do much more than any of us can do on our own. We look forward to seeing you at future events. Enjoy the newsletter!
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
"Give for Good," Diversity Coalition's Annual Fundraiser, is back! Last year, an amazing group of community leaders and supporters celebrated diversity at the beautiful Flying Caballos Ranch. We had a blast!
We're thrilled to return to Flying Caballos and grateful for their generosity. Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Rita Casaverde Executive Director
By taking this quick survey you can help the SLO County Air Pollution Control District better understand your community's air pollution concerns and determine what would provide meaningful benefit to your community
Al completar esta breve encuesta, puede ayudar al Distrito de Control de la Contaminación del Aire del Condado de SLO a comprender mejor las preocupaciones sobre la calidad del aire en su comunidad y a identificar qué acciones podrían proporcionar beneficios significativo.
MOTHERHOOD AND DISABILITIES
This month we had a much needed conversation about Motherhood and Disabilities
In partnership with The Mama Temple and as part of their month-long art exhibit at The Bunker, we made a call to our community to talk about this often overseen intersection.
The presence of our disabled community, and absence of allies was strongly felt. We need to do better.
We need to do better every July, Pride Disability Month, and every month of the year.
Considering that some disabilities can be acquired at any point of our lives, the disabled community is one that most of us will join at one time or another, making sure our systems are accessible and fair benefit us all.
This program followed a program we presented last August on the “Importance of Diversity on Maternal Health and Birth Equity”, and it was another opportunity to learn from an important intersectionality We thank our attendees for being so open and vulnerable when sharing their experiences, we look forward to continuing created spaces where we can support each other.
Interested in topics around parenting and disabilities? Contact us Let’s keep the conversation going.
RESOURCES
Connect with our friends at SLO Access for All, a field of interest fund at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County https://sloaccessforall.org
8 facts about Americans with disabilities
Pew Research Center
JULY 24, 2023
Older Americans are significantly more likely than younger adults to have a disability. Some 46% of Americans ages 75 and older and 24% of those ages 65 to 74 report having a disability, according to estimates from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) This compares with 12% of adults ages 35 to 64 and 8% of adults under 35.
Americans in certain racial and ethnic groups are more likely to have a disability. American Indians and Alaska Natives (18%) are more likely than Americans of other racial and ethnic backgrounds to report having a disability, according to the 2021 ACS estimates. Asian and Hispanic Americans are least likely to say they have a disability (8% and 10%, respectively). The shares of White and Black Americans who report living with a disability fall in the middle (14% each)
The most common types of disability in the U.S. involve difficulties with walking, independent living or cognition. Some 7% of Americans report having serious ambulatory difficulties –struggling with walking or climbing stairs – according to the ACS estimates.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/24/8-facts-about-americans-with-disabilities/
BIPOC BOARD LEADERSHIP
PROGRAM UPDATE
Second Board Matching and Networking Mixer
Last month we had our second Board Matching and Networking Mixer at the amazing Octagon Barn. Thank you to our partners at The Land Conservancy for hosting us.
On June 6th, local nonprofits had the unique opportunity to connect with graduates of our BIPOC Board Leadership Training program, in an effort to increase fair representation within their board of directors
The matching and connecting doesn’t end with our mixers, our program facilitates connections between our incredibly qualified graduates and local organizations.
And did you hear? Our fall, and third training, has been announced! We are taking our training to Santa Maria this fall, in partnership with The Fund for Santa Barbara.
The Fund has been working on advancing progressive change by strengthening movements for Economic, Environmental, Political, Racial, and Social Justice, and we ’ re proud to expand our services into Santa Maria in partnership with them.
Questions on how to join our program? Email us at training@diversityslo.org
BIPOC BOARD LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
AUGUST PROGRAMMING
AUGUST PROGRAMMING
FROM OUR PARTNERS:
The SLO Symphony's Annual Pops by the Sea concert is coming up on August 31, 2024. Pops by the Sea: Movie Magic is an outdoor, family friendly concert that will feature music from popular cinema scores.
GET YOUR TICKETS:
my805tix.com/e/pops-2024
Let's get together at The Gala Pride and Diversity Center for a Potluck on Saturday, 8/3/24, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to fill the space with love and community.
Free Mom Hugs will be available onsite to share free hugs and baked goods and beverages for a pay-what-you-can donation. The donation will benefit the Gala Pride and Diversity Center.
To sign up to bring a dish or help out, please email Events@galacc org
Bringing food to share is encouraged but not mandatory!
FROM OUR PARTNERS:
The San Luis Obispo County Branch of the NAACP will be screening the film Origin. The screening will take place in the evening of August 10, 2024, in the auditorium of San Luis Obispo High School.
Origin, written and directed by Ava DuVernay (who also wrote and directed the award-winning films Selma and 13th) is about Isabel Wilkerson and the writing of Wilkerson’s book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. The film focuses on Wilkerson’s exploration of the correspondence between American racism and other forms of bigotry and their common role in maintaining social hierarchies.
The screening will be followed by a discussion, in which, among others, Mayor Erica Stewart will participate
The screening is a fundraising event for the SLO County Branch of the NAACP. Tickets are available at:
https://naacpslocty.org/event/special-screening-of-movie-origin/
FROM OUR PARTNERS:
Exclusive Workshop Opportunity: The City of San Luis Obispo Office of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI), in partnership with Cal Poly Office of University Diversity & Inclusion (OUDI) is excited to share with you an upcoming community learning opportunity as part of the Community Belonging Series.
Title: 3-Part Identities & Power Workshop Series
Date: August 15th (Zoom), 20th, and 22nd
Time: 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Location: Ludwick Community Center (864 Santa Rosa St San Luis Obispo, CA 93401)
Description: 3-part cumulative series that will enhance understanding of the history and construction of power and privilege and its implications on identity and race relations.
Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/3-part-identities (please register as seats are limited). Participants must complete all three workshops to receive the certificate
This event is completely free and we encourage community members to register as soon as possible
