CERF+ Access & Equity Council

Will you help us make CERF+ a more equitable and inclusive organization? We are looking for individuals to join a new advisory council to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within CERF+’s programming, as well as advise the CERF+ staff and board on increasing reach and engagement with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)/ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native-American), Disability, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

The mission of the CERF+ Access & Equity Council is to inform, support, and educate CERF+ about building emergency resilience for all artists in craft disciplines*.

The council is tasked with informing, supporting, and educating CERF+ on a range of topics related to the organization’s programs, services, and outreach. Members of the council play significant roles or have deep interest in the craft field as artists, educators, leaders, activists, facilitators, grantmakers, organizers, emerging leaders, and the individuals working in emergency management.

*CERF+ broadly defines craft to include those who create work using historically recognized craft materials such as clay, glass, fiber, wood, metal; as well as those whose work expands on these historical definitions through the incorporation of non-traditional materials, new technologies and experimental approaches.

CERF+ is equally committed to the preservation of folk and traditional arts, as rooted in, and reflective of, the cultural life of a community. We recognize and support the ways that information is often passed on from one generation to the next and celebrate practices rooted within a common ethnic heritage, geographic region, religious affiliation or occupation.

CERF+ Access & Equity Advisory Council Objective

To advise on and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within CERF+ programming, as well as advise the CERF+ staff and board on increasing reach and engagement with BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)/ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native-American), Disability, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

CERF+ Access & Equity Advisory Council Goals

Advise CERF+ on providing meaningful and culturally responsive support and resources
Advise CERF+ on its grant programs, including: offerings, guidelines, and review processes
Inform CERF+ about the state of affairs for craft artists and/or disaster relief
Serve as ambassadors by sharing CERF+ information and opportunities via social media and other networks
Develop ways to engage and support historically marginalized makers in the craft community with education, advocacy, and tools by sharing CERF+ grant opportunities with diverse craft artists, gathering feedback from such networks, sharing information on craft advocacy when needed.
Identify opportunities for and threats against diversity, equity, and inclusion within CERF+ programming and overall organizational development.
Offer suggestions to the CERF+ staff and board of directors as to how CERF+ programs and services can be improved and/or expanded to better serve diverse craft maker communities.
Support CERF+ in recruiting and retaining historically marginalized audiences (users), partners, donors, staff, and board members.

The council will inform the CERF+ staff and governing board while recognizing that time and resources may prevent all recommendations from being operationalized.

The council’s recommendations and significant themes will be shared with both CERF+ staff and board members to inform both programming and governance at CERF+. An annual report of council activities and key recommendations will be compiled and shared broadly for optimal transparency.

Term and Council Logistics

The initial CERF+ Access & Equity Advisory Council will comprise seven members, with an additional three members to join the 2023 council. The initial advisory board will serve a term of two years and may be reappointed for up to another year. Recruitment of additional two-year terms will begin in February of 2023.

The CERF+ Access & Equity Advisory Council will convene in September of 2022, for an initial two-hour kick-off meeting. Following that meeting, the council will meet every at least quarterly for one hour or at a frequency to be determined by the advisory council members.

The CERF+ People’s Committee staff and board liaisons will serve as the primary communicators between the advisory council and CERF+ staff and board.

CERF+ will engage a facilitator with a background in implementing DEI best practices in arts-related organizations and programs. The facilitator

will serve as an objective party and thought partner to advise on key topics, facilitate meetings, and summarize each convening. The facilitator will also be responsible for working with the People’s Committee liaisons to support the council’s annual report.

Members of the council will be eligible for a $700 stipend per year; half will be paid up-front, with the remainder paid upon completion of the engagement agreement and W9.

How To Express Interest In Participating

CERF+ welcomes submissions of interest from all craft artists, educators, leaders, activists, facilitators, grantmakers, organizers, and members with emergency management experience and will prioritize those who identifying as members of the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)/ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, Native-American), Disability, and LGBTQIA+ communities. To express interest in participating in the CERF+ Access & Equity Advisory Council, please submit:

A personal statement of interest in any form (such as a short, or other artistic expression)
A resume, short CV, or summary of relevant experience, skills, and achievements is welcome, but not required.

Your statement should include:

Why you are interested in joining the council
Your vision for how an advisory council can best advance the CERF+ mission of serving artists who work in craft disciplines by providing a safety net to support strong and sustainable careers
Your experience and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity

The CERF+ People’s Committee will evaluate submissions and recommend candidates for the council to be approved by the CERF+ staff and board. Selected council members will be announced in late February 2022. We will also reach out to those not selected to explore additional opportunities for engagement. We greatly value your experiences, perspectives, and interest.

Please submit your application to [email protected]

Timeline

July 6th – Recruitment Opens
August 3rd – Recruitment Closes
August 26th – Determinations Sent
September 19th – Proposed Two Hour Kickoff Meeting

Review Process

Submissions of interest will be reviewed to assess the following factors:

Knowledge about Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Track Record in Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Plans for Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion