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Our Racial Equity Journey

Working to invest financial, programmatic, and informational resources equitably.

Mass Cultural Council Racial Equity Journey

2023
March 21

Racial Equity Progress Report (Sept ’22 – Jan ’23)

Reflecting on a Year of More Equitable Grant-Making. (Image: Public Art Work by Tran Vu.)

2022
November 21

Assessing Recent Outreach & Recruitment Efforts

photo of a high-ceiling room outlined with columns, numerous tables of people standing and sitting to talk with each other
Applicant pool for Cultural Sector Recovery Grants shows increased reach (Image: Attendees networking at the Western Mass BIPOC Artist Salon & Resource Share on October 24, 2022.)

October 17

Michael J. Bobbitt Receives 2022 Action Bearing Award from MassOpera

photo of a crystal award object with the inscription MassOpera proudly presents the Action Bearing Award to Michael J. Bobbitt

Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt was honored by MassOpera as the recipient of the 2022 Action Bearing Award, recognizing his advocacy and activism towards the development of a cultural sector that is more equitable, just, representative, and anti-racist. (Image: Award from MassOpera.)

September 26

Mass Cultural Council Receives NASAA 2022 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Agency Award

photo of 3 people standing with an award certificate

Our field’s highest honor for a state arts agency demonstrating innovative and exceptional efforts to support and advance DEI in its state (Image: Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt receives award with Deputy Director, Dave Slatery and Director of People and Culture, Cathy Cheng-Anderson.)

August 10

Racial Equity Progress Report (June – Aug ’22)

Child sitting at a table gluing images of prominent people of color to a crown-shaped piece of paper that's adorned with sparkly 'gems'

A quarterly report on our anti-racism work, including internal and external steps we are taking. (Image: Child participates in Brand Out with C1, an event hosted by Company One Theatre.)

July 12

Expanding the Leadership Pipeline for BIPOC Talent Across the Cultural Sector

a photo of two people laughing. The person in the background has long braids, some colored a dark blue. In the foreground, the person has long, dangly earrings, a cropped hairstyle and a black mask pulled down to their chin.

Agency invests in NAACBoston’s Mentorship & Sponsorship Program 2.0 (Image: 2022 Mentorship & Sponsorship Program participants laughing.)

June 28

Cultural Equity Learning Community 2.0 Launched

a grid of dozens of smiling faces, instructors in the CELC 2.0 trainings

We are pleased to partner with the Co-Directors of Arts Connect International (ACI) on launching the Cultural Equity Learning Community 2.0 (CELC 2.0), an asynchronous anti-racism course, this summer. CELC 2.0 was developed by ACI to support our arts and culture ecosystem — and its leadership — in progressing equitable practices.

Mass Cultural Council is providing financial support for up to 1,000 Massachusetts artists and cultural sector leaders to attend this training series in FY23.

June 21

Michael J. Bobbitt & Mass Cultural Council Honored by Empower Success Corps

ESC 40th Anniversary Party where Michael J. Bobbitt and Mass Cultural Council received the ESC Nonprofit Impact Leadership Award. (left-right: Mass Cultural Council Chair Nina Fialkow, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt, ESC Chair Bonnie Clendenning, and Mass Cultural Council Vice-Chair Marc Carroll). Photo: Ilene Perlman.

They received the ESC Nonprofit Impact Leadership Award for committing to advancing racial equity and increasing support for under-resourced organizations. (Image: Mass Cultural Council Chair Nina Fialkow, Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Michael J. Bobbitt, ESC President Julie Crockford, and Mass Cultural Council Vice-Chair Marc Carroll.)

June 1

Racial Equity Progress Report (Apr – May ’22)

an Indigenous-inspired mural of flowing colors framed by geometric shapes

A quarterly report on our anti-racism work, including internal and external steps we are taking. (Image: ‘Wakpa’ Wheatpaste Mural at Tufts University Art Gallery. )

May 19

Anti-Racism Policy for Employees Unveiled

Mass Cultural Council unveiled an Anti-Racism Policy for Employees as a step forward to cultivating an anti-racist workplace.

 

May 3

$975,000 Awarded to 51 AAPI Organizations for Pandemic Recovery

March 22

Racial Equity Progress Report (Jan – Mar 22)

January 27

Racial Equity Progress Report (Oct 21 – Jan 22)

A quarterly report on our anti-racism work, including internal and external steps we are taking. (Image: Dot Art participant holding a rock painted with the words “You are beautiful as you are.”)

2021
December 16

Meet the BIPOC Outreach Coordinators

 

These four engagement enthusiasts are help the Agency form new relationships and surface unmet community needs. (Image (l-r): Tran Vu, Erika Slocumb, Erin Genia, and Ana Masacote )

November 4

Introducing Our Cultural Equity & Access Initiatives Team

Left to right: Catherine Cheng-Anderson, Director of People & Culture; Charles G. Baldwin, Access & Inclusion Program Officer; Cheyenne Cohn-Postell, Equity & Inclusion Program Officer.

Working closely with our Executive Director, this new team will work – internally and externally – to advance the Agency’s equity, access, and inclusion goals. (Image, left-right: Catherine Cheng-Anderson, Director of People & Culture; Charles G. Baldwin, Access & Inclusion Program Officer; Cheyenne Cohn-Postell, Equity & Inclusion Program Officer.)


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