Current dialogue about racism towards #BIPOC has me thinking back to my experience at @SMMWConference’s #SMMW20. See tweet below for context. https://twitter.com/kimberly_lyn/status/1234882498724679680

At the time I called the comment (made by the head of the conference) about Chinese attendees as “negative,” but it was racism plain and simple. It perpetuated anti-Asian sentiment and racism just before #COVID19 was declared a pandemic. Cc @SMMWConference #SMMW20

I was very gracious in my responses to @SMMWConference and its founder, both on Twitter and email. BUT they never followed up about what steps they were taking to address cultural and diversity training from the top down. #smmw20 #smmw21

So now I ask @SMMWConference, what are you doing to address anti-Black and anti-Asian racism, and discrimination for this year’s #smmw21 and for your entire organization? #smmw20

Will you ensure that all @SMMWConference staff from your founder to your volunteers take mandatory, yearly diversity and equality training? #smmw20 #smmw21

Will @SMMWConference help marginalized #BIPOC have access to #smmw21 and other events so they can afford to attend, or grant scholarships? #smmw20

Will @SMMWConference commit to diversify their speaker line up for #smmw21 and for future conferences and events? #smmw20

Will @SMMWConference reflect on their hiring practices and create a mandate to ensure #BIPOC people are in senior, decision-making positions to effect organizational wide change? #smmw21 #smmw20

I’m not interested in cancel culture attitude or move towards @SMMWConference or it’s founder, knowledge shared at the conference helps a lot of people. However, if you cannot deeply reflect on past actions and make positive change to combat institutionalized... #smmw21 #smmw20

Racism and discrimination, you contribute to the problem. @SMMWConference has a #BIPOC audience, which I found under represented at my first (and likely) last time at the conference. #smmw20 #smmw21

I’m going to end this thread with a quote by my colleague @ashleydmeehan, “Be like @benandjerrys!” Cc @SMMWConference #swmm21 #smmw20 https://twitter.com/benandjerrys/status/1267875868673794048?s=21 https://twitter.com/benandjerrys/status/1267875868673794048