<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Aptos;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Century Gothic";
panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#467886;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Good morning!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I am excited to announce the launch of a monthly BIPOC virtual affinity meetup<b>
</b>group. This meetup group is for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) library workers employed, volunteering or seeking a library job in Oregon. An affinity group, as defined by the
<a href="https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/dei/affinity" target="_blank">New York State Library</a>, is a
<i>“group of people linked by a common purpose, ideology, identity, or interest. Affinity Groups play a vital role in ensuring an inclusive environment where all are valued, included, and empowered to succeed.</i>” This space is intended to be an opportunity
for BIPOC library workers to share resources, give and receive support, network, converse, and to create a sense of belonging with other people of color.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first <b>BIPOC Virtual Affinity Meetup</b> will take place on Tuesday, January 28<sup>th</sup> from noon-1pm; meeting details can be found<span style="color:#4EA72E">
</span><b><span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/StateLibraryOfOregon/BIPOCAffinityMeetup"><span style="color:#0070C0">here</span></a></span></b><span style="color:#0070C0">.
</span>This group will be specifically focused on promoting safety, support, and confidentiality of those in attendance. These meetups will not be formally facilitated, nor will there be a set agenda. The future of this virtual affinity space will be shaped
entirely by the needs and wants of attendees, and/or feedback received from Oregon library workers who identify as Black, Indigenous or as a person of color.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you do not identify as Black, Indigenous or as a person of color, please do not plan on attending this meet-up. If you are looking for avenues of support and learning for your library staff of color and/or communities of color, please
connect with me. Your help preserving this space for BIPOC library staff is appreciated.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For this first meeting, I am also asking that any BIPOC workers who supervise and/or manage other library staff refrain from attending. If you are a BIPOC supervising staff member and a space like this is needed, feel free to reach out
to me, or<b> <span style="color:#78206E"><a href="https://forms.gle/RPp4pijVjUwUDBqLA"><span style="color:#78206E">provide feedback anonymously here</span></a></span></b>.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you are interested in seeing an affinity space created for another marginalized, minoritized or racialized identity falling outside of BIPOC library workers, please<span style="color:#E97132">
<b><a href="https://forms.gle/Lua4iaeiQBTdQkFk8"><span style="color:#E97132">share your interest here</span></a></b></span><b>.
</b> I will be looking at how to expand these spaces to other identity groups in the new year.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please let me know if you have any questions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Warm Regards, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Ericka Brunson-Rochette (she/her/hers)
<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant
</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none">State Library of Oregon</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:ericka.brunson-rochette@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="color:#467886">ericka.brunson-rochette@slo.oregon.gov</span></a>| 971-375-5126<br>
<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:#467886">www.oregon.gov/library/libraries</span></a><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="323" height="43" style="width:3.3666in;height:.45in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DB583F.6016C310" alt="Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon"></span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none">Work Schedule: Monday-Thursday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>