DLF Committee for Equity and Inclusion

Our DLF

From a Forum Inclusivity Initiative to a Year-Round Advisory Group on Equity and Inclusion

We strive to make DLF events and initiatives as welcoming and accessible as possible. Since the 2016 DLF Forum, our Forum Planning Committees have included a sub-committee on inclusivity issues. The work of the Inclusivity Committee has been so important to us, and has made a significant impact to the experiences of our attendees. To provide guidance for DLF staff and for the community year-round, we are creating a new, standing DLF Committee for Equity and Inclusion.

What Has Happened So Far?

2016

Began

DLF Forum Inclusivity Committee founded, with work on DLF’s Code of Conduct and now-basic Forum features.

2017

Continued

The 2017 committee continued work from the previous year and created accessibility resources for presenters.

2018

Extended

The 2018 committee continued work from previous years as well as created resources for moderators.

2019

Expanded

DLF introduces a new Committee for Equity and Inclusion to focus on broader, year-round initiatives.

Our 2016-2018 Forum Inclusivity Committees were made up of volunteers who have thoughtfully and collaboratively implemented initiatives, including:

Expanding and updating DLF’s Code of Conduct
Reviewing the conference registration form to ensure that registrants have the opportunity to provide us with accommodation requests, preferred pronouns, dietary restrictions, etc.
Serving in intentional “connector” roles to our many other Forum planning groups (from the social and local planning committees to the program and sponsorship committees), to ensure that the spirit of inclusivity touches every aspect of Forum planning
Designating and publicizing a quiet room, nursing room, gender-neutral restrooms, and other features at the Forum venue
Helping to arrange DLF Forum childcare services
Setting up and publicizing community note-taking docs, compiling important accessibility tips for people creating slide decks, and promoting sharing of conference materials through DLF’s OSF for Meetings account
Facilitating ride-share and room-share connections via a public exchange, to help make the Forum more economically accessible
Serving as a helpful sounding-board for DLF staff who are working to organize the Forum, and assisting with other projects, large and small

For more information about the committee’s work, check out our wiki.

Join the Standing Committee

The new, year-round DLF Committee for Equity and Inclusion will aim to build and support more inclusive, diverse, and equitable communities of practice. We envision this to be a lightweight group that advises DLF staff, shares expertise and resources, and collaborates with annual Forum “Community” committees to ensure that a spirit of inclusivity permeates the work those groups do in supporting on-site Forum programming. Do you have an article to recommend? Tips on organizing inclusive in-person or remote events? We hope to utilize the expertise of this group when planning the DLF Forum and DLFx events, but also to serve as a framework for community members to ask questions and offer advice.

Interested in volunteering for the standing committee? Monthly call information + agendas can be found here.

Please join our Google Group and check out the group’s wiki for more information.