WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION
We at Litquake recognize that a renewed, public commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is crucial to both our own growth and that of the arts community at large in the Bay Area. We know that by addressing inequity in our organization, we will create a space in which readers and writers of all identities will feel welcome and empowered to participate in our mission—bringing people together around the common humanity encapsulated in literature.
We commit ourselves programmatically to:
We commit ourselves administratively to:
We understand this commitment is not short-term, and in fact it is work that will never end—as our community and its needs change, we aim to change with it.
We commit ourselves programmatically to:
- Support more BIPOC & LGBTQ+ writers and highlight their stories
- Serve a diverse, intergenerational audience for literature
- Prioritize equitable access to our programs
- Collaborate with our community in order to best understand and respond to its various needs
We commit ourselves administratively to:
- Create a staff, board, and volunteer base reflective of our community
- Function transparently in regards to our journey towards these goals
We understand this commitment is not short-term, and in fact it is work that will never end—as our community and its needs change, we aim to change with it.
Here's our 2023 Progress Report:
- 68% of authors featured were BIPOC
- 35% of authors were LGBTQ+
- 59% of attendees were BIPOC
- 31% of attendees were LGBTQ+
While Litquake’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is not new, its official public announcement is. We feel a formal reminder is necessary for ourselves, our partners, and the Bay Area arts community at large—let’s hold ourselves and each other accountable.
Although Litquake has been engaged in this work for some years (with major progress in programming, administrative practices, and especially in our community partnerships), we wish to make it a public promise to double down on our efforts.
Why? As an organization we have benefited from the hegemonic structures that define our country, our city, and our industry—the promotion of literature and the publishing industry continue to be defined by exclusivity and are dominated by white, male voices.
We believe literature is a powerful tool of self-definition for individuals and self-determination for communities. Everyone deserves the privilege to tell their story, and to have a stage and an audience that is primed to thoughtfully engage. For the audience, we believe literature is a medium for empathy-raising, for discovery, and for the deep contemplation of the issues of the day. It connects us, it nourishes us—everyone deserves literature.
Programmatically, we have already made progress in this area. We have greatly increased our collaborative partnerships with more culturally-specific nonprofits, venues, and arts groups who serve the Bay Area’s BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities. We have expanded our work with writers of color, queer writers, and others identifying with underserved communities, and work to highlight these writers in all our programs. Administratively, we have made equity a primary topic at all staff and board meetings, and it functions as a primary factor on how we assess our performance as an arts organization. We celebrate this progress, but understand there is plenty of work left to do.
We understand that this is work we cannot do alone. We need the help of our partners, our sponsors and donors, as well as the writers and audience members we serve. We ask you to support us in this work however you can, and express our deep gratitude to you and to those who have paved the way.
Although Litquake has been engaged in this work for some years (with major progress in programming, administrative practices, and especially in our community partnerships), we wish to make it a public promise to double down on our efforts.
Why? As an organization we have benefited from the hegemonic structures that define our country, our city, and our industry—the promotion of literature and the publishing industry continue to be defined by exclusivity and are dominated by white, male voices.
We believe literature is a powerful tool of self-definition for individuals and self-determination for communities. Everyone deserves the privilege to tell their story, and to have a stage and an audience that is primed to thoughtfully engage. For the audience, we believe literature is a medium for empathy-raising, for discovery, and for the deep contemplation of the issues of the day. It connects us, it nourishes us—everyone deserves literature.
Programmatically, we have already made progress in this area. We have greatly increased our collaborative partnerships with more culturally-specific nonprofits, venues, and arts groups who serve the Bay Area’s BIPOC & LGBTQ+ communities. We have expanded our work with writers of color, queer writers, and others identifying with underserved communities, and work to highlight these writers in all our programs. Administratively, we have made equity a primary topic at all staff and board meetings, and it functions as a primary factor on how we assess our performance as an arts organization. We celebrate this progress, but understand there is plenty of work left to do.
We understand that this is work we cannot do alone. We need the help of our partners, our sponsors and donors, as well as the writers and audience members we serve. We ask you to support us in this work however you can, and express our deep gratitude to you and to those who have paved the way.