Our equity statement.
WE BELIEVE WE MUST ALL MAKE HISTORY
We believe in the power of history to ensure everyone has a sense of belonging, connection, community and agency. That means we believe that all human beings, children and adults, are of fundamental equal dignity and value. At our core, this belief is the basis for centering our work on equity at The History Co:Lab.
Our mission is to improve the well-being of our community by increasing opportunities for young people to learn in a way that makes them feel valued and seen, and that teaches them the skills and mindsets that they need to engage as citizens for the wellbeing of others and the planet. This kind of teaching is currently not available to kids equally, many kids grow up feeling marginalized and powerless. We believe good history is an effective way to build a more fair and equitable future for all young people. Our commitment is to center equity as we prioritize partnerships with diverse communities nationwide.
We believe diversity includes all the ways in which people differ, encompassing the different characteristics that make one individual or group different from another. While diversity is often used in reference to visual characteristics such as race, ethnicity, age, sex, and physical appearance, we embrace a broader definition of diversity that also includes less visible factors, such as, national origin, religion, gender, differing abilities (physical, mental, learning), sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, political affiliation, and military experience. We also recognize that individuals can affiliate with multiple identities. We aim to employ and develop a diverse staff at all levels that reflects and represents our partner communities.
We recognize that The History Co:Lab operates within the United States and its history, including being influenced by the legacy of forced removal of indigenous people, slavery, discrimination and long-standing institutional efforts to maintain inequitable conditions based on race. We cannot rest on our good work as proof of our immunity from those influences – for either our organization or as individuals.
Addressing racial equity within The History Co:Lab is a priority because race, although merely a construct, is the basis for many inequitable policies, practices, and attitudes. We are dedicated to learning and acting in alignment with the goals of racial equity and justice, and specifically with Black and African American people.
Our culture is based on core values:
Passion. Collaboration. Curiosity. Rigor. Relentless Commitment. Sincerity. Adaptability.
Since our founding in 2019, we have strived to create inclusive and respectful environments for all children through the work we do with museums and teachers. We are as of now a small, but we are committed to addressing all the ways systemic racism and inequity of all kinds can show up inside our organization and for our wider team members.
Uplifting racial equity we commit to:
Provoke honest and dynamic discourse on diversity, equity, and inclusion;
Rigorously examine our practices, learn to recognize how our organization perpetuates inequitable norms, and establish decision-making and operational expectations that firmly act in opposition to inequity;
Partner with communities where systemic racism has created so much inequity, and engage them in decision-making, as they are experts in their community’s needs and experiences; and
Cultivate an inclusive working environment in which every employee feels comfortable expressing their full identity and leadership at all levels actively supports that experience.
This work demands our long-term commitment. Establishing anti-racist practices requires vigilance, and we recognize that we will make mistakes. We are dedicated to learning from those mistakes. We ask all of our stakeholders – including staff, board members, community partners, and supporters–to encourage, challenge, advise, and join us in this work. Simply put, The History Co:Lab will only achieve its vision of civic wellbeing for every young person by being an equitable and inclusive organization.