We could also see if we could become a distribution point.
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I tried to run a while back. As well as another woman of color. Didn’t end well. 
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I can’t like it.
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Last fall I invited society of women engineers to come in. I made them some laser cut keychains with their logo and we had a little coloring night and a tour. I’d be happy to do that for other groups that might help us tie in and listen to diverse communities I’d even email them if anyone has ideas. Most people learn about MakeICT through friends and word of mouth and it can be a real challenge to reach past that.
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This is a very good discussion to have. Period.
It’s also a discussion that is difficult.
Not necessarily for the reason that one might guess first. One might suspect that a difficulty is the risk of alienating majority/patriarchy/ageist (etc.) sense of privilege. I’m all for challenging them, which might even include myself, going by appearances. The challenge is necessary and desirable.
I’m thinking about the difficulties associated with asking people who are doing a thing to have any insight into why others are avoiding/unable/unwilling to do that thing. As an appalling example of a local official failing to recognize they were asking the wrong questions of the wrong person, a former Director of Wichita Transit commissioned a survey of bus riders to try to figure out what barriers existed to utilization of the bus system. There was one useful thing learned that resulted in rescinding the limit on number of bags a rider was allowed to bring onto a bus. (Imagine trying to use the bus for transportation from a grocery store with a limit of 2 bags of groceries). Zero information was gathered from people whose schedule is incompatible with the hours of operation. Or from people who couldn’t walk the distance to and from the nearest bus stop. Or from people who couldn’t afford bus fare.
I’ve directly experienced a blatantly sexist environment where I was in the minority gender, which very few of we who identify as male ever have to experience. But that’s gives only limited insight into what very many people experience every day every where. I don’t claim to be able to have the needed view of what that’s like except for being very good at empathy and listening. I’ve also experienced extreme poverty, but only really before I turned 19 years old, which was a long time ago and done while being Caucasian, so not having to experience how it feels combined with racism.
In my typical long winded way I’m saying that all of us who’ve experienced little or no discomfort due to lack of diversity, equity and inclusion need to listen and learn and try to be supportive of positive changes and with the starting point being an acknowledgement of our ignorance.
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As Showroom, Gallery lead I support this.
Conversations about this are necessary, and the Showroom should be the area to present these conversations.
This can be a difficult conversation, a meeting in the maker space is needed to start this conversation. While the next Maker Monday is short notice it is a starting point.
Dean
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I don’t understand bigotry of any sort. I’ve had people explain it to me in some fucked up ways.
I approve this line if inquiry. Especially if it leads to delicious ethnic foods at the makerspace.
There are some neat ethnic groups in the area. I know a community of Sri Lankan families. We have a strong Indian community (can’t turn down naan) and a strong Vietnamese community too.
We could see if they would be willing to do classes in their traditional foods (read naan), clothes (like make your own Djellaba class) and religious beliefs. Let’s celebrate Holi with them.
I’m gonna go get something to eat
···
On Sun, Jul 9, 2023, 09:07 Dean Day via MakeICT Forum <noreply@talk.makeict.org> wrote:
| deanday Creator Showroom Lead
July 9 |
- | - |
As Showroom, Gallery lead I support this.
Conversations about this are necessary, and the Showroom should be the area to present these conversations.
This can be a difficult conversation, a meeting in the maker space is needed to start this conversation. While the next Maker Monday is short notice it is a starting point.Dean
Visit Topic or reply to this email to respond.
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3 Likes
Anyone have bandwidth to reach out to IRC Wichita?
I think that would be a great partnership.
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I’ve worked with IRC and I’m a monthly donor.
At one point we’d talked about doing a fundraiser because tools are always on their wish list. Refugee families come to Wichita with nothing, remember when you got your first apartment and you didn’t have a screwdriver, hammer to hang up pictures, hex wrenches. If we want to work with IRC they’d appreciate it but they’d want to know what we can give and I don’t think that’s what this thread is about.
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They do have an intergration program to help refugee get familiar with Wichita and what’s available that’s what I was referring to. We could have classes that would bring them into the makerspace and offer them an outlet to introduce their culture to the community. I talked to someone about that prior to the pandemic but I don’t believe that they are there anymore.
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There’s a Swahili speaking congregation almost directly across the street from the makerspace (they share space with Mt. Vernon UMC)
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I know this thread has been primarily about race, but I would like to piggyback off this topic about diversity to talk about a pretty hot topic right now. As I recall there have been some members who have expressed some less than excellent attitudes towards trans individuals in the past. If we are going to work towards diversity, I hope we can also create a space that is safe for our queer community as well.
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If this were as simple as helping IRC and local immigrants, Britain wouldn’t be in the process of returning items of cultural importance to other nations. Britain thought it was saving/improving the world by claiming other nations. Charity is worthy and has its place, but it distracts us from the actual work of figuring out what we’ve done wrong, and easily crosses into white saviorism.
If this were as simple as POC not knowing about us, outreach would be the answer. But we’ve had POC, and they had bad experiences, and we know for a fact it’s not limited to one person’s interactions.
We did make efforts to fix at least one systemic issue for trans members, in clarifying that name badges are not required to be legal names. I doubt that is the only issue.
There is more we need to know. Revisit @mikeb’s post. We need to take time to work on the organization and ourselves before we rush out to chase more relationships.
Last fall I reached out and received a first proposal from a qualified trainer - an LGBTQ, POC Air Force veteran - for diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging training and shared it with the board.
Another idea is a book/discussion club to explore issues - one aimed at white people, doing the work of figuring out the complexities and depths of systemc racism and how to talk about race. I think I still have 3 extra copies of White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White Poeple to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo.
We need to know what problems POC, trans people, and others are having. It’s very hard to get people to talk about the real issues. You’ve seen the blowback that happens, so it shouldn’t be surprising.
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For sure! Being apart of the LGBTQIA community myself, I have all the feels towards my brothers and sisters of the trans community. It really angers me when I hear that they are not respected in what is supposed to be a safe space for all.
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How soon can we start this?
I’ll let others have your copies. I will purchase the audio book.
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After the last few weeks I am not comfortable being in the space. I can leave drop the books off by next weekend, but I don’t see myself participating in it at this time.
I can offer further book suggestions, as I’ve participated in a Facebook discussion group over a few similar books with some other DVMoms.
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Me either, but I stopped by today because I knew I could help ceramics. It was a breath of fresh air. I’m still going to take it slow. I’m in no rush, I’m probably going to want to listen to it several times before discussing, and I probably could have worded my question better but was excited. If someone else feels comfortable leading a group like this please let us know.
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One suggestion I have is to be more active outside of MakeICT. Meet people where they are. Have we ever done school presentations? I know there are technology magnets in Wichita. When I was a journalist, I did a story about a STEM summer program put on by Wichita State aimed at underserved youth. We could try and partner with things like that. Kids tell their parents, parents get interested in the space.
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Before the pandemic I did a couple of Neighborhood Nights/ STEAM Nights at schools in USD 261 (Haysville) and USD 259(Wichita). I have a contact with USD 259. I will reach out to them and see how we can be added back to those events in USD 259, if they have them this school year. USD 261 Event is in January and on the radar of Classroom Management for this year because unfortunately we didn’t have any volunteers for last year as it was on a board meeting night.
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Please don’t do this unless y’all have enacted the proper ways to protect/take care of said people of color.
I had to let my membership go after the rumors/folks telling me I wasn’t welcome after fighting for this very same thing.
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