Image from: https://changingthestory.net/2021/01/20/diversity-and-inclusion-statement/
"Systemic racism and health disparities need to be combated by education and concrete actions. There is a need to raise up others especially amongst vulnerable populations in the US who have been historically oppressed and excluded, and who continue being excluded to this day. My wish is to focus on what we can do as accomplices in this mission, while we make sure to not place all of the awareness work on BIPOC people to make their voices heard. A more diverse, inclusive, and multicultural workplace benefits us all and we need to use our time and energy as best as we can to work towards that goal." - Jamie Bloss, Summer 2021
“I am diversity.” This was the theme of one my first large scale diversity efforts on the campus here at ECU. It meant the world to me because I know that I am diversity. I joined ECU in the Office of Institutional Diversity in 2006 and have been involved in diversity and inclusion efforts here in Greenville since then. I’ve served as co-chair of the Laupus Library Diversity committee for over 6 years, beginning shortly after I arrived here at the library. Our committee has evolved over the years and our commitment to DEI education and awareness has grown as well. It brings me so much joy to be involved in programming and collaboration efforts to educate and bring awareness to DEI, both on campus and in my community. “I am diversity. - Andrea Bristol, Summer 2021
"We have work to do. Our library, and the ECU community as a whole, is a better place when we not only make room, but push aside the barriers that have stopped Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other People of the Global Majority from speaking and making their voices heard. As a White, cis-gender woman, I realize my place in privilege. I have actively served on our library diversity committee for the past two years, and I also serve on the College of Nursing Diversity Council. My hope in serving in these capacities is to find ways to create concrete actions that can lead to real change. Two projects I've recently been working on include: 1) Researching ways to broaden our hiring practices to make them as inclusive as possible, and 2) Assisting on a sub-committee to create a transparent DEI reporting & accountability system, for faculty, staff, and students to report when they have had an event of hate or experienced a painful microaggression." - Carrie Forbes, Summer 2021
"I requested to join the Laupus Diversity Committee for two reasons. The first is because there is an established dearth of diversity in the field of health sciences librarianship, and the second is because I know my own privilege as a white woman means I have to deliberately practice equity and inclusion. The Diversity Committee provides the platform for Laupus employees to share ideas and create action plans that put diversity, equity, and inclusion at the fore. I look forward to the Diversity Committee’s continued good work to amplify the voices of underrepresented populations as well as to enhance Laupus’s own diverse representation." - Dr. Amanda Haberstroh, Summer 2021
"Our society is built on systems which oppress many individuals to keep the power and wealth among the few. I recognize my own enormous privilege as a white, cis-gender, middle class, educated able bodied individual and therefore I must continually educate myself, listen and take action as an accomplice to support the mission of fighting for equity and inclusion for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and disabled peoples. We each must do our part and not let the burden for change rest on those already oppressed, disenfranchised, and excluded by the system. Libraries, and health sciences libraries especially are plagued by a lack of diversity in collection, staffing, and programming, so working to change the systems within libraries that exclude is vitally important. Being a member of the Laupus Diversity Committee allows me to share ideas and take action to support diversity, equity and inclusion and make the library, university and even our society more just." - Heidi Reis, Summer 2021
