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Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI)

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Committee Meetings
     (4th Thursday each month)



 

 

Thursday, September 24th
6:30 - 8:00 pm on Zoom

 

Help implement 2026-2027 DEIJ work in the League and Thurston Community

Email for Zoom link: 

Membership@LWVthurston.org

 

Join in the discussion for potential speakers, topics and partnerships to help complete our work plan.

Click to see the DEIJ Committee Goals and Actions Work Plan:

2026-2027 DEIJ Goals & Actions


DEIJ Committee activities - Download report by clicking:  DEI & Justice Activities and Events 2020-2025

                       

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, and INCLUSION POLICY

Board approved 8/28/24

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy LWV is an organization fully committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in principle and in practice. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to the organization’s current and future success in engaging all individuals, households, communities, and policy makers in creating a more perfect democracy.

 

There shall be no barriers to full participation in this organization on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, native or indigenous origin, age, generation, sexual orientation, culture, religion, belief system, marital status, parental status, socio-economic status, language, accent, ability status, mental health, educational level or background, geography, nationality, work style, work experience, job role function, thinking style, personality type, physical appearance, political perspective or affiliation and/or any other characteristic that can be identified as recognizing or illustrating diversity.

 

Discrimination or harassment of any kind will not be accepted within the League, including but not limited to race, socio-economic status, age, ability status, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender identity, or marital status. The League is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging for all people. The League is an organization that respects and values the richness of our community and our members. The collective sum of our individual differences and life experiences represents not only our culture, but our reputation and the organization's mission and achievements as well. 



    Land Acknowledgement 2023

    Today, we acknowledge the original stewards of the land we call Thurston County: the Nisqually, the Chehalis, and the Squaxin Island people who thrived here for thousands of years. We also confront the truth that their land was unjustly taken, causing generations of trauma to its people.

    Acknowledgement is just the beginning. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves on the history of these tribal nations, on our joint history, and on the role they continue to play in the Thurston County community. We must create authentic connections with our neighbors, amplify their voices, recognize the unique concerns they face, and support their continued call for justice.

 


Multicultural Book Group

They Called us Enemy

 We'll Discuss They Called us Enemy by George Takei on Tuesday, September 8th 2-3:30pm. We have a change in venue. We'll meet at Annie Cubberly's house. We'll also choose our next book, so bring your ideas! To find Annie's address, sign into our website and Member Resources will appear in the menu on the right. Click on it and then on Membership Directory. Type "annie" then choose our country and Search. Scroll down and Annie's contact information will be there. You can also contact voterservices@lwvthurston.org 
 
This graphic book is a memoir recounting the firsthand perspective of George Takei as a four-year old sent to
what he prefers to call a concentration camp, not an internment camp.

Among the questions Takei’s illustrated narrative asks are: When the world is against
you, what can one person do? Who gets to decide what being an American means?

This book (published in 2019) is readily available at your branch of the Timberland Library.

At the end of the discussion, the group will select from a list of recommended books to read for the
November 13 evening book discussion on Zoom.





Diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded in the urgent and important work of the League!




 

DEI Resources  

 

DEFINITIONS


LWVWA Definitions 

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Links to inclusive language, including non-binary pronouns
Links to inclusive language, including non-binary pronouns
 American Psychological Association

MyPronouns.org

Racial Equity Tools Glossary

REFERENCES & resources

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Books
Books
  • Trailblazing Black Women of Washington State, Marilyn Morgan
  • How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, Clint Smith
  • The Sum Of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone And How We Can Prosper  Together,  Heather McGhee*
  • Murder At The Mission: A Frontier Killing, Its Legacy of Lies, And the Taking of the American West, Blaine Harden*
  • Against Civility: The Hidden Racism in our Obsession with Civility, Alex Zamalin*
  • Caste:The Origins of Our Discontent, Isabel Wilkerson*
  • The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander
  • Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates*
  • So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo*
  • Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People, Mahzarin Banaji
* Titles read by the Let's Talk About Race Book Group
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Articles
Articles
  • How Trump  Upended 60 Years of Civil Rights.  NYT The Daily Podcast: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/21/podcasts/trump-civil-rights-dei.html
  • The Language of Anti-Racism (excerpted from, “Stay Woke, A People’s Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter," Candis Watts Smith and Tehema Lopez Bunyasi, February 2020
  • Before you rage against Critical Race Theory, it might be helpful to know what it is, Marcus Harrison Green, February 2022
  • The Dictionary Definition of Racism Has to Change, John McWhorter, The Atlantic June 2020
  • Ta-Nehisi Coates Revisits the Case for Reparations, The New Yorker, June 2019
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Movies & Websites
Movies & Websites
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Recorded Workshops
Recorded Workshops

CIVICS & CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EDUCATION

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The State We're In - Your guide to state, tribal, and local government
The State We're In - Your guide to state, tribal, and local government
The League produces two compelling civics textbooks, The State We're In: Washington. A new version is designed for elementary grades 3-5, and  the eighth edition of the original is for grades 6 and up. The State We're In: Washington—Your Guide to State, Tribal and Local Government, designed for 7th grade and up is now available in Spanish.

LEARN MORE
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Office of Superintendent Public Instruction (OSPI)
Office of Superintendent Public Instruction (OSPI)
Washington SEL Implementation Brief: Focus on Culturally Responsive Practices

Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Education Civic Education


LWV dei event recordings

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A Look at Local Tribal Approaches to Health Care
A Look at Local Tribal Approaches to Health Care

Link to recorded forum coming soon.

LWVTC Event
Featured speakers:

  • Vicki Lowe, Executive Director of the American Indian Health Commission for Washington State (AIHC)
  • Angela Tobias, Family Medicine Doctor and former Skokomish and Squaxin Tribe physician
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Native American Women and the Suffrage Movement
Native American Women and the Suffrage Movement

 LWVUS Webinar - Native American Women and the Suffrage Movement


COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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The League of Women Voters of Thurston County is proud to co-sponsor events and educational opportunities to:
The League of Women Voters of Thurston County is proud to co-sponsor events and educational opportunities to:
Amplify concerns and  work together with community partners to face inequities of historically marginalized people. 

Act when we can, after study and based on the teachings of those with knowledge of appropriate actions that are responsive to community.

Community partnerships have included:
 

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P.O. Box 2203
Olympia WA 98507