Justice

Equity

Diversity

Inclusion
Dismantling barriers to resources and opportunities in society so that all individuals and communities can live a full and dignified life. Allocating resources to ensure everyone has access to the same opportunities. Equity recognizes that advantages and barriers—the ‘isms’—exist. All the differences between us based on which we experience advantages or encounter barriers to opportunities. Diversity isn’t just about racial differences. Fostering a sense of belonging by centering, valuing, and amplifying the voices, perspectives and styles of those who experience more barriers based on their identities.

As defined by the OSC/J.E.D.I. Collaborative.

NALMS strives to make our Society a safe, welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment for everyone. In 2018, with input from the full membership, the Board of Directors adopted a Code of Conduct for events. In 2019, the Board adopted a Diversity Statement and dedicated our 40th anniversary in 2020 as the Year of Diversity.

The NALMS leadership collaborated on a statement released on June 5, 2020, in response to recent racial violence and mass demonstrations in the U.S. and across the globe and acknowledged that more actions are needed.

NALMS commits to continuing our efforts to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organization while we advance lake management and science. We have created this web page with information about actions NALMS is taking and how our members can help our Society and the broader lake management community bring about this change.

Proposed Action Items
(as of June 3rd, 2020) – updates will be tracked below each item

1) Establish a Task Force ✔

At the June 2020 Board meeting, a Task Force was established to identify and coordinate the implementation of an action plan at all levels of the organization, including with committees, programs, and events. Mark Rosenkranz, Sarah Burnet, Perry Thomas, Liz Favot, Lisa Borre, Keiko Wilkins, Vinicius Taguchi, and Alyssa Anderson (NALMS staff) have volunteered so far to lead this effort and coordinate with respective committees that they serve on: Ethics, Communications, and Development. Other members are invited to join the new Task Force and/or provide feedback and ideas via email to diversity@nalms.org.

UPDATE (Feb 2021): The Task Force has since been unanimously approved as a NALMS Program, thus ensuring it remains a priority for current and future Board members. We also happily welcomed four new members to our group: Camille Mosley, Sabina Perkins, Nancy Schuldt, and Danielle Wain. We thank these wonderful volunteers for their commitment!

 

2) Reflect on the NALMS Strategic Plan, Mission and Programs ✔

In light of recent events and inequities that have been revealed, all committee chairs, program liaisons, staff, board, and the Executive Committee should take time to review current and future planned activities and operations and have conversations with colleagues to identify ways to end racial injustice and find opportunities for creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive organization and lake management community. The Task Force should identify a process and timeline for reporting back with ideas and recommendations.

UPDATE (Feb 2021): The NALMS Strategic Plan (2021-2024) has been updated to include JEDI issues. Starting in 2021, the JEDI Program now has a permanent time slot on the monthly Board meeting to provide updates, action items, and timely information to the full Board of Directors for input and comment.

 

3) Mentoring Program (ongoing)

Through the student program, NALMS has created ways to pair students with mentors who attend the annual symposia through a lunch event and resume review activity, but more could be done to create a more meaningful program that also places a priority on creating and supporting more diversity. Other organizations (e.g., ESA SEEDS and AFS Mentoring) have established effective mentoring and/or scholarship programs. NALMS should consider the establishment of a more robust mentoring and scholarship program, in addition to the already established student travel awards and recognition programs, not just with the goal of helping students, but also for mentoring and supporting students and early career professionals from diverse backgrounds.

 

4) Recruitment (ongoing)

With board elections on the immediate horizon, the Executive Committee and Board should identify ways to reach out and recruit more diverse representation, especially Black colleagues and POC, in general, for the upcoming election, future elections, and committee assignments.

UPDATE (Feb 2021): In the summer and fall of 2020, the JEDI Program focused on curating an extensive list of HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) and Canadian tribal colleges/universities. We reached out to these academic institutions to invite them and their students to participate in our virtual fall conference, as well as other upcoming opportunities.

 

5) Education, Outreach, and Engagement (ongoing)

In recognition that many in the field of lake management and science have chosen this as a career path or volunteer activity because of life experiences with lakes or nature in their childhood or as a young adult or because a parent, teacher, camp counselor, coach or other person in their lives provided encouragement and support, NALMS should consider opportunities for education, outreach, and engagement with underrepresented groups in our organization, especially Black youth and POC, in general. The annual symposia and other events provide an immediate opportunity to work with the public and organize these types of activities.

UPDATE (May 2022): NALMS was thrilled to take part in the 2022 Joint Aquatic Sciences Meeting (JASM), where representatives from our program were given the opportunity to present on NALMS’ efforts to increase and promote EDI in our programs, events, and overall mission.

6) Communications and Reporting (ongoing)

We should strive to communicate information and report on progress toward meeting Task Force recommendations. This can begin with creating this web page dedicated to Diversity that describes efforts underway or planned in the near future and includes a list of resources. It could also include reporting on Diversity and racial justice initiatives in the Annual Report, and for example, be incorporated into the revisions to the Communications Manual and Task List that are currently underway.

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Why is it necessary for NALMS to speak out on racism and inequality?

    NALMS strives to make our Society a safe, welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment for everyone. We also believe our efforts are enhanced by including a diversity of people and voices. Recent events have revealed how pervasive racism is in the U.S., Canada, and beyond, including in the sciences and the environmental management field in general, but also in the lake and watershed communities where NALMS members and partners live and work. We cannot accomplish our mission “To forge partnerships among citizens, scientists, and professionals to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs for today and tomorrow” without doing our part to address racism that causes harm and inequity for our members, the broader lake management community, and society as a whole.

  • Where can I find the NALMS Diversity statement?

    Diversity for NALMS means creating a community of inclusion. We respect and value the unique contributions and perspectives of all members, employees, event participants, students, volunteers, and our local and international communities. Diversity includes age, culture, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, color, race, religion, sexual orientation, diversity of thought, ideas, and more. Diversity maximizes our true potential for creativity, innovation, and collaborative problem solving. NALMS strives to cultivate a Society built on mentorship, encouragement, tolerance, and mutual respect, thereby engendering a welcoming environment for all. NALMS promotes diversity in all areas of activity, including fostering diversity in membership, leadership, committees, staff, outreach, public engagement, recruitment, and all other areas of Societal activity.

    The NALMS Board of Directors adopted this statement in March 2019.

  • Does NALMS have an established Code of Conduct for the annual symposia and other events?

    Yes. You can find the full Code of Conduct here.

This is an active page that will evolve as more resources become available. Please contact our task force at diversity@nalms.org if you would like to join the conversation.

Read NALMS statement on racism and equality, released on June 5th, 2020.

Contact Us

JEDI Program Co-Chairs
Camille Mosley, Mark Rosenkranz, Vinicius Taguchi, and Keiko Wilkins
diversity@nalms.org

Top row (left to right): Mark Rosenkranz, Lisa Borre, and Sarah Burnet. Second row: Vinicius Taguchi, Danielle Wain, and Keiko Wilkins. Third row: Nicole White, Alyssa Anderson, and Camille Mosley. Bottom row: Nia Rivers. (Full program committee not pictured.)