Our League’s mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. Working for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is one of our basic principles, and a bylaw. Working for DEI directly supports our mission.

A refreshed Washington State DEI Working Committee is forming, and if DEI is something you care deeply about, please consider joining! Maybe you even know someone who might also be interested. There are plenty of ways your interests and skills can help move us forward: technical talents, community connections, ideas for reaching out to our membership, and more. We work closely with Civics Education, Voter Services, and Advocacy.

And always, we work at improving our own personal DEI knowledge, skills, and commitment. We expect to have a busy year. The following are some of the things we will be working on:

• Increase our understanding of how we can support Leagues with their DEI initiatives through a MELD affinity group.
• Update the DEI strategic plan based on what we learn.
• Improve and expand the DEI section of the LWVWA website with:
  • Links to portions of the national website.
  • Access to “book reports” our committee members write.
  • “Stories” about DEI activities local Leagues have worked on.
• Develop and recommend resources for our local Leagues:
  • Information and contacts about some of the wonderful DEI-related civics education activities Leagues have shared.
  • Create DEI “moments” Leagues can share at meetings.
  • Land acknowledgements.
  • Share information about programs Leagues and individual members may like, such as the Leaderosity course made available by the national League.
  • Provide information about how a member can work for equity and social justice.
• Put holidays, festivals, and special notes on a shared calendar of diverse community activities.
• Continue to develop relationships with state-level organizations representing diverse communities.
• Support state-sponsored commissions around diverse communities, such as Washington state’s new Office of Equity.
• Work on policies and legislation to promote social justice.
• Plan and deliver a DEI workshop for our members in the fall.

If you’re interested in being part of the committee, please contact sfleming [at] lwvwa.org (Susan Fleming). You would be most welcome!