We are delighted to announce that due to overwhelming support for the Black Speakers’ Fund, the MCN Board of Directors has approved to extend the funds to cover MCN 2020 VIRTUAL costs for Black volunteers. Following conversations with MCN’s Volunteer Coordinators and Conference Program Co-Chairs, we recognized a need to better integrate and create entry-points for emerging or mid-career GLAM professionals who are Black. The sector has seen some growth with regards to the recruitment and hiring of Black persons, but it has also seen a dismal retention rate.
Representation is not enough when it comes to creating inclusive spaces and organizations. It is paramount that Black (and other underrepresented) persons are not only hired and retained, but also promoted to decision-making roles that foster growth at institutions. This starts with making space, both within institutions and industry networks like MCN. In the United States specifically, decades of systemic and structural racism have created barriers for Black people gaining economic stability and social capital - two factors that heavily determine whether one is even able to consider, sustain, and flourish as a museum worker. Such jobs are contingent upon personal and professional networks, as well as a degree of economic mobility. The mutual aid fund collected for Black speakers and Black volunteers acknowledges and compensates the time, attention, and energies in helping to realize MCN 2020 VIRTUAL. Before the start of the conference, payments will be distributed equally based on the total number of applicants. This initiative continues the work MCN began earlier this year to make the organization more inclusive and affirm its commitment to dismantling embedded racism against marginalized and historically underrepresented communities in the museum technology field. If you are a Black speaker or volunteer interested in being a recipient of this fund, apply here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf12atoqoA4qJ-5GVR00koSLEUtOhKGjxrXp3bUUkczoBKElw/viewform?usp=sf_link If you are interested in contributing to support Black colleagues speaking or volunteering at the conference, you can do so through the registration page. You will be able to donate without registering for MCN 2020 VIRTUAL: https://mcn.edu/conferences/mcn-2020-virtual/. MCN Board of Directors DEAI Advisory Board Conference Program Committee Volunteer Committee *YVONNE LEE* HEAD OF COLLECTION INFORMATION AND DIGITAL ASSETS WWW.LACMA.ORG <http://www.lacma.org/> PRONOUNS: SHE/HER/HERS T 323.857.6250 <(323)%20857-6250> E [email protected] _______________________________________________ You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (http://www.mcn.edu) To post to this list, send messages to: [email protected] To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit: http://lists.mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l The MCN-L archives can be found at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
