Category: Diversity & Inclusion

Trans101 Training

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The Junior League of Omaha Diversity and Inclusion Committee is proud to bring Eric Reiter from OutNebraska for Trans101 training on September 23 from 7-8 p.m.

The mission of OutNebraska is “To empower, celebrate and grow LGBTQ+ communities in Nebraska” and their vision is “Nebraska communities that embrace and celebrate the full spectrum of LGBTQ+ people.”

In this training, participants will learn about the history of the trans community, correct language and how to use it, how trans people intersect with multiple other identities, how present-day trans people are being affected by public policy and discrimination in the public sphere, as well as how folks can become accomplices to trans liberation.

As a League, we aim to be inclusive and welcoming to all women. The Diversity and Inclusion Committee sees value in helping JLO members and sustainers understanding the ins and outs of the LGBTQ experience as well as the trans community.

From Diversity and Inclusion committee member Sheena Helgenberger on the training: “Being an ally to the transgender people in my life, and to transgender people overall, begins with understanding the basics.  Our presenter Eric will cover trans history, terminology, and ways to be advocates. I hope you can join us in this interactive zoom session!”

We also see value in understanding the experiences of the trans community based on the volunteering that JLO members do. From Community Impact Council Director Catherine Harrington: “As human beings, we are all so different and I think it is so important to learn and appreciate how other people experience life. It helps me keep an open mind and be a better advocate for equal human rights. Most of all I think people want to be heard and respected for who they are and me listening is the first step.”

Members: sign up for Trans101 on Digital Cheetah today!

“Books are incubators” – Stories Cultivating Empathy

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“Books are incubators.” Jason Reynolds’ words resonate. I imagine books hatching open worlds, creating images, and stories not only of things we love but questions and conversations. Right now, we need the incubators of stories to cultivate empathy.

Librarians curate book collections, which represent our students, their backgrounds and stories. They are mirrors into their lives and windows into someone else’s life.

Now think of that favorite book as a child or even a current one. Did it mirror your life?  What is it a window into someone else’s life? What is a sliding glass door where you became part of the story? When was the last time you or your family read a book with a character that looked different than you? Or had a religion or an experience that you did not understand?

I ask this because our books lack diversity, creating singular viewpoints of stories. Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her Ted Talk explains when she was young, she only saw windows into other people’s lives and didn’t know that her story too could exist in literature. 

When we only hear one continual narrative about a culture, it creates stereotypes and that is the only story we hear. The need for diverse books is to expand the single story and use stories as incubators to begin the work of cultivating empathy and allowing us to have hard, vulnerable conversations.

Below are two incredible lists of sources.

Made with Padlet

Race, Anti-Racist, Equality & Social Justice Resources for all Students, Librarians, Teachers, Families and Communities

Let us curate a bookshelf that amplifies diverse voices!

Jess Winter, 2020-21 Communications Project Management Chair 

Kindness

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This year our League president, Kerri Palmesano has turned our focus towards extending kindness. In the spirit of her theme, “Throw Kindness Like Confetti”, we have included some ways that you too can spread kindness.

  • Leave a note tucked in the pages of a book for a stranger to find
  • Deliver homemade baked goods to your neighbor(s)
  • Pay someone a genuine compliment
  • Clean up the trash in a public place
  • Offer to run an errand for a busy friend
  • Buy a book that you think a friend will like and give it to her
  • Hold a door for someone

Our League kicked the year off by learning from Ferial Pearson, the founder of The Secret Kindness Agents. Ferial provided thought provoking conversations with our members this past fall that has catalyzed our work to be more inclusive and equitable. We commend her work to spread kindness and encourage you to watch her TEDx Talk.

Please click here if you would like to join Secret Kindness Agents mailing list.

Kelsey Haswell, Marketing Vice Chair