This year the Division Presidents are aligning their theme and all will focus on different aspects of EDI that speak to their Division. My Presidential theme will focus on supporting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) through assessment and outcomes by identifying, overseeing planning, and implementing activities. The theme will build on the ground work laid by the Advancing Diversity Taskforce and Sandra Hughes-Hassell’s Presidential Theme promoting youth advocacy. It also speaks to the needs of members who are looking for guidance on impactful outcomes and assessment, and moves YALSA closer to reaching the goals it laid out in its implementation plan. It is an ambitious plan, but has potential for impact.
The Taskforce will last for a year tackling a variety of activities throughout. Activities will include:
Advocacy & Activism
- Incorporate the theme into summer learning, Teen Read Week™ and Teen Tech Week™
- Create position and/or issue papers on the theme
Leading the Transformation of Teen Services
Research & Best Practices
- Create a summer learning assessment tool
- Encourage appropriate YALSA publications (inc. journals, books, blogs) to publish information about the issues, and/or host a themed issue or month
- The summer 2019 issue of YALS will focus on outcomes
- Identify and highlight existing related resources from ALA and beyond to YALSA members
- Adapt the resources, if necessary
- Create a grant, contest or award to promote, gather and highlight best practices
- To help members better understand and support the issue, a toolkit could be developed that would include:
- An overview of the issue
- Information on why it’s important for members to adopt an outcomes approach
- Examples of best practices and/or emerging practices
- Resources, including adaptable survey instruments
Continuous Learning
- Create new CE on the topic, as appropriate, including creating webinars, an e-course, snack break videos, and in-person sessions and pre-conferences at conferences and symposia
- Incorporate the issue into existing CE offerings
- Direct members towards existing CE from other organizations, either inside or outside ALA
- Participate in targeted conferences on the topic and/or create canned presentations that individuals can give at local or regional events
Member Engagement & Recruitment
- As needed, get feedback from members to identify or prioritize specific needs in relation to the topic
- Include questions in the Aug. 2018 member survey
- Recruit individuals to start an Interest Group on the topic
- Build out an issue focused page on the wiki seeded with a list of existing useful resources, further reading, etc. and then encourage members to add content to the page
- Set up an email listserv where individuals with an interest in the topic can connect
Fund & Partner Development
- Identify and partner with outside organizations, as appropriate, to create resources and opportunities for members
- Center for Youth Program Quality
- Identify ways YALSA could collaborate with and/or support other appropriate ALA units
- PLA’s Project Outcome
- Establish a member taskforce or standing committee to support the issue
- Determine whether there’s a good opportunity to create and sell a particular product or service in relation to the issue
You can see the board document in full here: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/sites/ala.org.yalsa/files/content/PresidentTaskforce_AN18.pdf
If these topics interest you and you would like to serve on the taskforce or participate in one of the many activities that will happen this year reach out to me at crystle.martin@gmail.com.
