NCMC Diversity, Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion (DEAI) Committee Statement

The North Carolina Museums Council is committed to creating a diverse community that is inclusive, accessible, and equitable for all. Through intentional practices, NCMC seeks to promote understanding, appreciation, and respect for values and efforts that embrace diversity and inclusivity in our institutions, organizations, and in the broader community.

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Diversity:

Diversity refers to all of the ways in which people differ at the individual and group levels. The ways in which individuals might vary includes (but is not limited to) backgrounds, personal characteristics, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, abilities, nationality, ethnicity, religion, ideas, beliefs, cultures, and traditions.

In practice, diversity refers to the effort to to include people of varied backgrounds in an organization. In practice, diversity can also refer to the effort to diversify the narratives and experiences presented at an organization.

Inclusion:

Inclusion is an intentional and ongoing effort to create an environment that engages multiple perspectives, differing ideas, and individuals from diverse backgrounds, while providing a sense of belonging and a safe space. An inclusive environment encourages the authentic participation of any individual or group, appreciates and values individual differences, and cultivates a culture of mutual respect and understanding.

In practice, inclusion can refer to a variety of people having power, a voice, and decision-making authority. In practice, inclusion can also refer to a variety of narratives and experiences presented at an organization.

Equity:

Equity refers to the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement of/for all people. This involves factoring in aspects of existing systems that have held particular groups at a disadvantage.

In practice, equity ensures that everyone involved in the organization (staff, patrons, and audience alike) has access to the same opportunities and that one’s identity and circumstances do not hinder or affect these opportunities.

Accessibility:

Accessibility is the intentional practice of making equitable physical and cognitive experiences available to everyone.

In practice, accessibility refers to how organizations make space for the unique characteristics that each person brings. This approach includes creating physically and cognitively welcoming on-site and digital spaces for patrons of all ages.

Feedback for the DEAI Committee Form (links to a Google Form)

The list of categories and resources displayed on NCMC's website was compiled by NCMC’s DEAI Committee with input from members via survey. We welcome your questions, comments, or concerns. We consider our DEAI resource list a living document and are devoted to continually updating and improving it.

DEAI Toolkit Category Menu

This list of categories and resources was compiled by NCMC’s DEAI Committee with input from members via survey. Please reach out to membershipasst@ncmuseums.org or communicationsasst@ncmuseums.org with any questions, comments, or concerns. We consider this a living document and are devoted to continually updating and improving this list of resources.


last updated February 2022

Toolkits & Great Starting Places for All Functional Areas

Facing Change: Insights from American Alliance of Museums’s DEAI Working Group
https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AAM-DEAI-Working-Group-Full-Report-2018.pdf
(AAM, vocabulary, basic principles, case studies)

American Alliance of Museums’s DEAI Resources For All Museum Functional Areas
https://www.aam-us.org/programs/resource-library/diversity-equity-accessibility-and-inclusion-resources/
(AAM, toolkit)

American Alliance of Museums’s LGBTQ+ Alliance Welcoming Guidelines
https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-Welcoming-Guidelines.pdf
(AAM, LGBTQ, toolkit)

Museum As Site For Social Action (MASS) Resources & Toolkit
https://www.museumaction.org/resources
(Assessments, toolkit, blogs)

Racial Equity Tools’s Resources
https://www.racialequitytools.org/

(toolkit, research, tips, curricula, and ideas)

The Inclusive Historian’s Handbook
https://inclusivehistorian.com/

(rapid response collecting, reinterpreting collections, exhibitions, tips, inclusive narrative)

Eastern Carolina University’s Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center’s State & Local Resources
https://lgbtq.ecu.edu/state-and-local-resources/

(State and local resources, LGBTQ resources)

Time Out Youth Resources
https://www.timeoutyouth.org/youth/resources

(Community centers, domestic violence, faith-based resources, pride, LGBTQ, housing resources, HIV/STD, health, youth resources)

Southeastern Museums Conference Equity & Inclusion Action Team Toolkit
https://semceiat.wixsite.com/eiat/tool-kit

(SEMC, toolkit, education, collections, interpretation, human resources, language, policies, reading list)

Western Museums Association DEAI Resources
https://westmuse.org/diversity-and-inclusion-resources

(DEAI in the institution, how to talk about race, racial identity, sample diversity and inclusion statements, readiness assessments, measuring social impact, webinars, actionable resources)

Equality North Carolina Resources
https://equalitync.org/resources/


Randi Korn & Associates: DEAI as a Daily Practice
https://rka-learnwithus.com/lessons-learned-understanding-deai-as-a-daily-practice/

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Diversity & Inclusion

Facing History & Ourselves
https://www.facinghistory.org/

(Diversity, Inclusion)

The Inclusive Historian’s Handbook: Diversity and Inclusion
https://inclusivehistorian.com/diversity-and-inclusion/

(Definitions, Inclusion, Diversity)

Association of Art Museum Directors: Next Practices in Diversity and Inclusion
https://aamd.org/sites/default/files/document/050916-AAMDNextPracticesDiv-Incl.pdf

(Case studies, Diversity, Inclusion)

The Incluseum: Tools and Publication
https://incluseum.com/tools/

(Activities, toolkit/guides, Diversity, Inclusion)

Community Tool Box: Enhancing Cultural Competence
https://ctb.ku.edu/en/enhancing-cultural-competence

(Activities, toolkit/guides, Diversity, Inclusion)

American Alliance of Museums’s Museum Magazine: “Inside Out Outside In: A Resilience Model for Museums Offers Strategies to Address Challenging Realities”
https://www.aam-us.org/2021/05/01/inside-out-outside-in-a-resilience-model-for-museums-offers-strategies-to-address-challenging-realities/

(Inclusion, toolkit/guides, Diversity)

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LGBTQ+ & Gender

Equality North Carolina
https://equalitync.org/

(LGBTQ rights, racial justice, equality)

LGBT Center of Raleigh
https://www.lgbtcenterofraleigh.com/resources/community-resources.html

(Resources and services in NC, initiative programs, LGBTQIA)

LGBTQ Center of the Cape Fear
https://lgbtqcapefear.org/

(LGBTQIA programming, outreach, advocacy)

Transgender Inclusion in the Workplace: Recommended Policies and Practices
https://www.thehrcfoundation.org/professional-resources/transgender-inclusion-in-the-workplace-recommended-policies-and-practices

(Transgender inclusion, human resources guidelines)

American Alliance of Museums’s LGBTQ+ Resources
https://www.aam-us.org/professional-networks/lgbtq-alliance/resources/

(Transgender inclusion,tooolkit, guide)

American Alliance of Museums’s LGBTQ+ Welcoming Guide
https://www.aam-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-Welcoming-Guidelines.pdf

(LGBTQ guide for all functional areas of museums)

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Accessibility

Autism Grown Up Resource Center
https://www.autismgrownup.com/

(Autism spectrum, toolkit, neurodiversity)

Understood
https://www.understood.org/

(neurodiversity)

UNC TEACCH Autism Program
https://teacch.com/

(Autism spectrum, neurodiversity)

Autism Society of North Carolina
https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/

(Autism spectrum, toolkit, neurodiversity)

NC Department of Health and Human Services: Services for the Blind
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/services-blind

(visually impaired, blind and deaf-blind)

NC Department of Health and Human Services: Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/services-deaf-and-hard-hearing

(Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or deaf-blind)

Governor Morehead School
https://www.governormorehead.net/

“Welcoming All Visitors: Museums, Accessibility, and Visitors with Disabilities” by Caroline Braden
http://ummsp.rackham.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Braden-working-paper-FINAL-pdf.pdf

(accessibility, case studies, ADA, American Sign Language, sensory assistance)

The Inclusive Historian: Accessibility
https://inclusivehistorian.com/accessibility/

(Accessibility, ADA, universal design)

Museum Learning Hub Modules
https://museum-hub.org/view-by-modules/

(Webinar, accessibility, training)

Museum Education Roundtable: “The Arc of Accessibility Work in Museum Education”
https://www.museumedu.org/vsi/2020-arc-of-accessibility-work-museum-ed/

(ADA, accessibility, reading list)

American Alliance of Museums’s Blog: “How to Start an Accessibility Movement at Your Museum”
https://www.aam-us.org/2020/11/05/how-to-start-an-accessibility-movement-at-your-museum/

(AAM, Accessibility, guide)

The Smithsonian’s “Access” Resources
https://access.si.edu/museum-professionals

(Toolkit, accessibility)

Eriksen Translations: Accessible and Inclusive Museums
https://eriksen.com/arts-culture/promoting-accessibility-diversity-inclusion-in-museums/

(Language, translation, ADA, captioning, non-English speakers)

National Endowment for the Arts: “Accessibility: Resources to Help Ensure Accessibility of Your Virtual Events for People with Disabilities”
https://www.arts.gov/impact/accessibility/resources-to-help-ensure-accessibility-of-your-virtual-events

(Accessibility, virtual events, American Sign Language, captioning)

American Alliance of Museums’s Blog: “10 Best Practices of Accessible Museum Websites”
https://www.aam-us.org/2021/01/07/10-best-practices-of-accessible-museum-websites/

(Accessibility, captioning, web content accessibility guideline, voice dictation)

Activities and Information Sheets by Your Therapy Stuff
https://www.yourtherapysource.com/freestuff/

(Worksheets, activities, special education, accessibility, sensory processing, motor skills)

ADA’s Guidelines for Writing About People With Disabilities
https://adata.org/factsheet/ADANN-writing

(Accessibility, language, guidelines)

Randi Korn & Associates: “Five Ways Evaluators Can Further Accessibility Efforts in Museums”
https://rka-learnwithus.com/five-ways-evaluators-can-further-accessibility-efforts-in-museums/

(ADA, evaluation, accessibility)

Inclusive City Maker: How to Make Museums More Accessible for People with Disabilities
https://www.inclusivecitymaker.com/how-to-make-museums-more-accessible-for-people-with-disabilities/

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Racial Equity

Racial Equity Alliances’s Tools & Resources
https://www.racialequityalliance.org/tools-resources/

(white privilege, racial equality, toolkit/guide, case studies)

Racial Equity Tools’s Resources
https://www.racialequitytools.org/resources/fundamentals/resource-list/resource-lists

(white privilege, racial equality/systemic inequality, reading list)

“Creating Cultures & Practices for Racial Equity: A Toolbox for Advancing Racial Equity for Arts and Cultural Organizations” By Nayantara Sen & Terry Keleher, Race Forward
https://www.raceforward.org/system/files/Creating%20Cultures%20and%20Practices%20For%20Racial%20Equity_7.pdf

(white privilege, racial equality/systemic inequality, toolkit/guides, activities, assessment)

Burnaway Magazine: “To Bear Witness: Real Talk about White Supremacy in Art Museums Today” by Dr. Kelli Morgan
https://burnaway.org/magazine/to-bear-witness/

(Art museums, white privilege, racial equality/systemic inequality)

“Museums, White Privilege, and Diversity: A Systemic Perspective” By Gretchen Jennings and Joanne Jones-Rizzi
https://www.museumcommons.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Dimensions-Diversity-Special-Edition_JenningsJonesRizzi.pdf

(white privilege, racial equality/systemic inequality)

National Museum of African American History & Culture: Talking About Race
https://nmaahc.si.edu/learn/talking-about-race

(white privilege, racial equality/systemic inequality, definitions)

Equality North Carolina Resources
https://equalitync.org/

(LGBTQ rights, racial justice, antiracism, advocacy, healthcare, anti-violence)

American Alliance of Museums’s Blog: “It Is Time to Include AANHPIs In Museum Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Efforts”
https://www.aam-us.org/2021/04/21/it-is-time-to-include-aanhpis-in-museum-diversity-equity-accessibility-and-inclusion-efforts/

(Diversity, Inclusion, accessibility, equity, AAM, AANHPI communities, “Asian Pacific Islander” (API), “Asian and Pacific Islander” (A&PI), “Asian American Pacific Islander” (AAPI))

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Latino/Latina/Latinx Programming, Collections, & Resources

“Expanding Collections of US Latinx and Latin American Design: A Virtual Dialogue with Christina De León and Jorge Rivas”
https://decorativeartstrust.org/de-leon-dialogue-post/

(Latinx, acquisitions, exhibitions, inclusion, webinar, case studies)

Yale University’s Latinx Studies: Digital Primary Sources
https://guides.library.yale.edu/c.php?g=512493&p=3511584

(Digital archives, Latinx, research)

The Museum of Latin American Art’s Educator Resources
https://molaa.org/educator-resources

(Educator resources, exhibition resources, programming, dia de los muertos)

The Getty Center: An Overview of Latino and Latin American Identity
https://www.getty.edu/news/an-overview-of-latino-and-latin-american-identity/

(Diasporas, latin america, identity)

The Smithsonian’s Latino Center: Teaching & Learning Resources
https://latino.si.edu/learn/teaching-and-learning-resources

(Latinx, bilingual, educator resources, dia de los muertos, webinars)

North Carolina Museum of History: “Latino Artists at Work”
https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/latino-artists-work

(Case studies, NC Latino artists)

The Mint Museum’s Museum-wide Latino Initiative
https://mintmuseum.org/latino-initiative/

(Case studies, NC latino artists, programming)

The Latinx Project at New York University
https://www.latinxproject.nyu.edu/digitalresources

(Reading list, latinx, digital archives, professional organizations, Latino Museums)

National Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers/

(Educator resources, latinx, programming, digital archives)

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Indigenous/Native American Programming, Collections, & Resources

Guide to the Indigenous Material at the American Philosophical Society
https://indigenousguide.amphilsoc.org/

(Digital archives, educator resources)

Native American Heritage Month Resources
https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/for-teachers/

(Educator resources, native american, programming, digital archives)

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian Educational Resources
https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/lessons-resources/search-resources

(Educator resources)

North Carolina Museum of History’s American Indian Heritage Celebration Resources
https://www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/aihc-2018/learn-more

(Reading list, tool kit, educator resources)

The Museum of the Southeast America Indian: “Leaving Home, Building Community: Triad Native American History, Presence, and Continuance”
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/58a8adcb31364930bf2a91d6b243de6a

(Native American history, digital exhibition, Triad NC, case studies, programming)

Museum of the Cherokee Indian’s Online Catalog
https://cherokeemuseum.pastperfectonline.com/

(Digital archives, Cherokee, Native American history, NC, resources)

University of North Carolina’s American Indian Center: NC Native Communities
https://americanindiancenter.unc.edu/resources/about-nc-native-communities/

(NC Native American Tribes, resources)

North Carolina Department of Administration: NC Tribal Communities
https://ncadmin.nc.gov/public/american-indians/nc-tribal-communities

(NC Native American Tribes, resources)

National Council on Public History’s History @ Work" Blog: “Repatriation and the Work of Decolonization”
https://ncph.org/history-at-work/repatriation-and-decolonization/

(Decolonization initiatives, resources, case studies, Native American inclusion in the museum)

IllumiNative Land Acknowledgment Guide
https://vyvffsfd9t8kvhg7cidtcma-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Land_Acknowledgement.pdf

IllumiNative Lesson Plans
https://illuminative.org/resources/

Native Land Digital Map
https://native-land.ca/

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Descendant/Gullah-Geechee Programming, Collections, & Resources

Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Website
https://gullahgeecheecorridor.org/

(Gullah-Geechee cultural and historic resources, partnership)

Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor & Queens University of Charlotte History Department StoryMap
https://queensuniv.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=8232463d62dc4b79a77a52cd8ac3c72a

(Digital exhibit, Gullah-Geechee cultural and historical resources)

The International African American Museum’s Center for Family History
https://cfh.iaamuseum.org/

(Genealogical research)

St. Helena Island: Gullah/Geechee Nation
http://www.sainthelenagullahgeechee.com/

(Digital exhibit, Gullah-Geechee cultural and historical resources)

The Gullah Project: Books related to the Gullah Culture
https://thegullahproject.org/book-related-to-the-gullah-culture/

(Reading list, Gullah-Geechee cultural and historical research)

“Engaging Descendent Communities: The Interpretation of Slavery at Museums and Historic Sites (A Rubric of Best Practices Established by the National Summit on Teaching Slavery)”
https://montpelier-documents.s3.amazonaws.com/Interpreting%20Slavery%2010-30-18.pdf

(Case studies, toolkit, engaging descendent communities, slavery)

Montpelier & the National Summit on Teaching Slavery:“Tackling Difficult History”
https://www.montpelier.org/learn/tackling-difficult-history

(toolkit, engaging descendent communities, talking about slavery)

Library of Congress: “Voices Remembering Slavery: Freed People Tell Their Stories”
https://www.loc.gov/collections/voices-remembering-slavery/?q=gullah

(Oral histories, descendants)

“Reflecting on Art Museums and the Legacies of the Dutch Slave Trade Programs People Collections” By Sarah Mallory, Kéla Jackson, Rachel Burke, Joanna Sheers Seidenstein
https://harvardartmuseums.org/article/reflecting-on-art-museums-and-the-legacies-of-the-dutch-slave-trade

(Webinar, talking about slavery)

NCAAHC: “Beginners Guide to African American Cemetery Preservation”
https://aahc.nc.gov/resources/heritage-practitioner-resource-library/preservation-webinars
(Genealogical research, webinar, African American History)

NCAAHC: “Historic Black Places, Spaces, and Stories Preservation Leaflet”
https://aahc.nc.gov/media/1169/open
(Genealogical research, African American History)

NCAAHC: “Beginner’s Guide to African American Genealogy Leaflet”
https://aahc.nc.gov/media/1164/open
(Genealogical research, African American History, talking about slavery, toolkit)

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NC Specific Curriculum, Lesson Plans, & Historical Research

Southern Cultures: Educator Resources
https://www.southerncultures.org/classroom/

(Syllabus suggestions, monuments, protest, oral histories, reading list, NC Content)

UNC Center for the Study of the American South: Civil Rights Oral History
https://sohp.org/k12-resources/civil-rights-oral-history-teaching-fellows-lesson-plans/

(Oral histories, lesson plans, voting rights, HBCU, Pauli Murray, Civil Rights, African Americans in Appalachia, women’s history, 8th-12th grade, NC content)

UNC Center for the Study of the American South: Mapping Voices of North Carolina’s Past
https://sohp.org/k12-resources/mapping-voices-of-nc/

(8th-12th grade, women’s history, African American history, NC Content, oral histories, mapping)

UNC Center for the Study of the American South: Centennial of the 19th Amendment
https://sohp.org/k12-resources/centennial-of-the-19th-amendment/

(8th-12th grade, women’s history, African American history, NC Content,oral histories, lesson plan, 19th amendment, K-12)

Southeastern Museums Conference Equity & Inclusion Action Team Educational Resources
https://semceiat.wixsite.com/eiat/post/resources-education

(Children’s books, race, gender, reading list)

Facing History & Ourselves: Educator Resources
https://www.facinghistory.org/educator-resources

(Race in US history, racial inequality, human rights, civil rights, antisemitism, immigration, bulling, holocaust, genocide, current events, lesson plans, teaching strategies)

NC African American Heritage Commission: Green Book Project Resources
https://aahc.nc.gov/green-book-project/green-book-project-resources

(Jim Crow, activities, Green Book Project, Racial inequality, NC Content, African American History, American South)

NC African American Heritage Commission Resources
https://aahc.nc.gov/resources

(NC Content, African American History, educator resources, Jim Crow, American South, Digital Collections, Green Book Project)

“On the Books: Jim Crow and the Algorithms of Resistance”
https://onthebooks.lib.unc.edu/

(NC History, digital collections, Jim Crow, Nc Content, African American History, segregation, text mining, digital humanities)

North Carolina Digital Collections
https://digital.ncdcr.gov/digital/

(Digital collections, NC content)

NCAAHC: “The Significance of Place Based Content in Teaching Black History
https://aahc.nc.gov/resources/heritage-practitioner-resource-library/education-webinar

(NC content, African American History, educator resources, webinars)

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Webinars & Trainings

American Alliance of Museum: Racism, Unrest, and the Role of the Museum Field
https://www.aam-us.org/2020/06/09/racism-unrest-and-the-role-of-the-museum-field/

(AAM, webinar, white privilege, racial equality/systemic inequality)

Museum Learning Hub Modules
https://museum-hub.org/view-by-modules/


UNC TEACCH Autism Program Virtual Trainings
https://teacch.com/trainings/virtual-trainings/

(Neurodiversity, autism spectrum, training, webinar)

Autism Society of North Carolina Webinars
https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/autism-webinars/

(Neurodiversity, autism spectrum, training, webinar)

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Case Studies: Museum Programming & Operations

“Interrogating Institutional Practices in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Lessons and Recommendations from Case Studies in Eight Art Museums"
https://sr.ithaka.org/publications/interrogating-institutional-practices-in-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/

(Case studies, art museums)

“(Re)Frame: The Case for New Language in the 21st Century Museum” in Exhibition (Spring 2016) by Rose Kinsley, Margaret Middleton, and Porchia Moore
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2mitjKPAu6yMGN1YUxfQ2F5ZVk/view?resourcekey=0-0RxunIXuGaCkEaQdVnwspw
(Inclusive language, exhibitions)

The Museum of Modern Art: Accessibility
https://www.moma.org/visit/accessibility/index
(Accessibility, case studies)

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Statewide Resources: Coming Soon

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