Equity Initiative

 

 

 

 

Understanding that cultural equity is not just programmatic, Since January of 2017, Old Salem Museums & Gardens/ Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts has embarked on a process of self-reflection and review with the goal to have the organization an empathetic, welcoming location that represented the needs of the staff and communities that surround us.  As an organization, we are dedicated to equity in economic, pay, cultural, ability, gender, and racial diversity, and social inclusion. There are specific areas that continue to be targeted:

INTERNAL STAFF

  1. Staff (full-time & part-time). Review hiring practices to eliminate any systemic bias and racism at all levels of the organization.
  2. Create a career path for all positions to allow for growth within the organization.
  3. Expand advertisements for staff positions to a wide range of communication platforms and enact aggressive recruiting efforts to be more inclusive of the communities surrounding Old Salem/MESDA.
  4. Continue to increase the pay for both hourly as well as salaried and provide at least a living-wage for all employees (based upon local cost of living data).
  5. Review multiple sources to keep pay scales appropriately related & equitable throughout the entire organization.
  6. Review annually the CEO (highest paid employee) to the lowest, exempt, salaried employee ratio.

POLICY

  1. Create inclusive policies that do not make it difficult to enter into employment at Old Salem/MESDA.  A. The analysis of background check, B. Reduce mandatory education requirements, C. Create non-biased job descriptions, D. Include salary range in all job postings, E. Create inclusive training process for all employees
  2. Review the “Employee Handbook” with particular perspective on providing an equitable workplace environment.
  3. Establish a fully inclusive “Non-Discrimination Policy”
  4. Craft Mental Health, Self-Care, and Empathy Policies that center efforts on the long-term health and satisfaction of the team.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. Have the Board of Trustees’ membership represent the larger community,
  2. Utilize the Access and Equity initiatives by enacting anti-racist policies to guide in the nomination, selection and care of Board members (IN DRAFT FORM CURRENTLY).

OPERATIONS & COLLABORATIVE LEADERSHIP

  1. Consider all levels of equity in business and outside vendor relationships and RFP submittals.
  2. Partner with outside organizations in ways that will serve our community, expand our perspectives, and engage new audiences.
  3. Through the ACCESS SALEM Initiative continue to modify the physical environment for those individuals & caretakers with multi-abled capabilities.
  4. Establish a Staff Advisory Equity Committee to help review policy and strategic directions within the organization.
  5. Expand the Leadership Team both in number of members as well as in representation to ensure a full reading of the organization’s various departments and employee levels.

PROGRAMMING

  1. Enact programming that expands the historic understanding of Old Salem and the diverse communities that lived, worked, visited, and were enslaved in the town. IE: Hidden Town Project & Advisory Committee, Cherokee Advisory Historian, Moravian Advisory Committee.
  2. Include other languages for interpretation in addition to English.
  3. Review curatorial practices and public information to de-colonize and eradicate all biased messages and interpretations.
  4. To re-envision the Education Division in ways that will produce a more inclusive and current interpretation of all communities who existed in the town of Salem.
  5. Create physical spaces and interpretation throughout the historic district (not isolated in one building) to tell the story of multiple communities. IE: The Tavern Room of Reflection, St. Phillips Church, Hidden Town text panels in all venues.