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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello, all!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Just a friendly reminder that the first BIPOC Affinity Meetup of 2026 is happening tomorrow at noon!
<span style="color:black;background:white"> Feel free to come and go as you please, eat lunch, and/or stay for the full meetup; whatever works best for your schedule and needs. Details can be found below</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:black;background:white">
</span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif;color:black;background:white">😊</span><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif;color:black;background:white"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><b>BIPOC Virtual Affinity Meetup </b>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><i>For Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.</i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Tuesday, <b>February 24</b>, noon-1p |
<a href="https://www.cognitoforms.com/StateLibraryOfOregon/BIPOCAffinityMeetup"><b>Meeting details and link</b></a><b>
<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="border:none;padding:0in">The days and times for all reoccurring affinity and DEI meetups can be
<b><a href="https://slo.oregon.gov/CommunityEngagement/DEI_Resources">found here</a></b>.
<span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow">The 2SLGBTQIA+ affinity group will be moving to the third Thursday of the month at noon starting in March</span>. More details will be shared out soon.<b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What is an affinity group? </b>Check out this <b><a href="https://nyslibrary.libguides.com/dei/affinity">New York State Library Affinity Groups Lib-Guide</a></b> for an affinity group definition and an overview of the benefits of attendance
for both individuals and their employing organization.<br>
<br>
<i>While</i> <i>topics are not predetermined, discussions may include challenges, concerns, surprises, or shared experiences related to identity. Attending just to listen, provide support, or to be in community with others is absolutely welcome for individuals
who hold a shared identity. <b>Confidentiality of attendees, conversations and information shared in affinity meetups is required.
</b>All virtual meetup groups are for<b> </b>individuals employed, volunteering, or looking for work in Oregon libraries. Managers and supervisors are permitted to join but are asked to be cognizant of barriers to authentic participation for other attendees
attributed to disproportionate power dynamics<b>. </b></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Best Regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Ericka Brunson-Rochette (she/her/hers)</span></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Community Engagement Consultant</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none">State Library of Oregon</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="mailto:ericka.brunson-rochette@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="color:blue">ericka.brunson-rochette@slo.oregon.gov</span></a> | 971-375-5126</span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:blue">www.oregon.gov/library/libraries</span></a></span><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="323" height="43" style="width:3.3645in;height:.4479in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DCA4D9.A166A730" alt="Logo for the Library Support & Development Services division at the State Library of Oregon"></span></a><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Work Schedule: Monday-Thursday<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="color:black;mso-ligatures:none">Check out my
<a href="https://slo.oregon.gov/CommunityEngagement"><span style="color:blue">LibGuide</span></a>!</span></i></b><span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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