Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Task Force

Strawbery Banke Museum tells the stories of the diverse neighborhood called Puddle Dock. To that end, we endeavor to:

  • Foster a culture that is truly equitable, inclusive, and accessible for a diverse workforce;

  • Offer inclusive, decolonized, and accessible interpretation, providing the necessary tools to allow everyone to enjoy the museum's daily program, including people with disabilities and financial barriers; and

  • Accurately and holistically reflect this rich history through a leadership team that is comprised of a diverse and inclusive group of community members.

IDEA Definitions

  • -Belongingness (qualitative)

    -Something you feel; diverse individuals and cultures feel welcomed, respected, empowered, and supported in the environment.

    -Organizational culture

  • -Representativeness (quantitative)

    -The presence of people who are different from the dominant culture/majority; a number that can be counted.

  • -Different than equality, as it factors in systemic advantages to the dominant people/culture

    -An active effort to eliminate barriers to success and eliminating a system of oppression; a redistribution of power that can lead to meaningful change.

    -A willingness of people in power to sacrifice something of meaning for the sake of equity.

    -Giving people access to what they need, not necessarily giving everyone the same amount.

  • The necessary tools, systems, and infrastructure is in place to support all of the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including people with physical and sensory impairments, developmental disabilities, and socioeconomic diversity.

Personal Pronouns

Museum visitors may notice staff wearing pins alongside their museum name tags, indicating whether they use she/her, he/him, or they/them pronouns. The effort toward ensuring that a person’s chosen name and desired pronouns are being used is a basic courtesy and aligns with the mission of the museum’s IDEA Task Force. We invite you to learn along with us about the importance of personal pronouns and to help us create an environment where everyone’s identities are valued.

Hiring Practices

Strawbery Banke Museum seeks out individuals from diverse backgrounds and encourages all to share their experiences and perspectives. Without diverse perspectives, we believe that we cannot be innovative or effective in the work that we do. In those efforts, we regularly review our work on inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and belonging for all of our constituents. Museum leadership is always open to suggestions on how we can improve. Please send suggestions to Laura Towne, Director of Human Resources, Volunteers, and Interns at ltowne@sbmuseum.org.