Earlier this month, Head Diversity Officer Beth Ziebarth invited staff to a virtual introduction to the Smithsonian’s new Office of Diversity. The event was the first in the new Our Shared Future Brown Bag series. These occasions will give staff across the institution opportunities to learn about the efforts underway to advance our 2022-2027 strategic plan.
The event was the first in the new Our Shared Future Brown Bag series. These occasions will give staff across the institution opportunities to learn about the efforts underway to advance our 2022-2027 strategic plan.
The Head Diversity Officer, Beth Ziebarth, hosted “Trusted Source: DEAI – Introduction to the New Office of Diversity” May 8. The virtual event began with remarks from Secretary Bunch. Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Meroe Park moderated a panel discussion with Melanie Adams, director of the Anacostia Community Museum, and co-lead on the DEAI strategic initiative; and Oris Sanjur of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and Acting Deputy Head Diversity Officer. A second panel, moderated by Beth Ziebarth, highlighted the vital contributions of four DEAI strategic initiative working groups.
If you missed the live event, the recording is available here. Closed captioning and ASLL interpretation are included.
Brown Bag Series
Each Brown Bag focuses on one or more of the twenty-three (23) key initiatives moving forward the Strategic Plan. In each session, we will share the process and progress underway for a particular initiative, solicit input on other activities underway at the Institution that could align with initiative, and invite insight on ways to make the initiative better and more successful. We want to thank the following initiatives for taking the lead on organizing the first few episodes of the OSF Brown Bag and getting the conversations started.
Thursday, May 11| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST) Trusted Source: Rural Initiative
Monique Chism, the Under Secretary for Education, Cynthia Chavez Lamar, the Director of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and Myriam Springuel, the Director of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES) and Smithsonian Affiliations, shared the background of the Rural Initiative, the work that has been going on, and what’s to come.
Friday, June 9| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (EST)
Digital: Audience & Data
Hear from Becky Kobberod, the Head of Digital Transformation (HDT) and members of her team about the pan-SI digital strategy and constituent relationship management (CRM) technologies pilot program that will launch at SI this summer, and which will start building the blocks for SI to offer a cohesive, unified approach to audience experience. Please come ready to learn and participate in this exciting effort.
Location: The session will be hosted on Zoom. A reminder will be sent closer to the date with information on how to attend.
SAVE-THE-DATE: Mark your calendars for the second Friday of every month for the OSF Brown Bag!
Alex di Giovanni is primarily responsible for "other duties as assigned" in the Office of Communications and External Affairs. She has been with the Smithsonian since 2006 and plans to be interred in the Smithson crypt.
