Mission Statement

Our Mission

The Children's Literature Council of Southern California, established in 1961, is a non-profit organization of librarians, educators, authors, illustrators, and book lovers, creating a community that connects, celebrates, and supports all those involved with the creation and promotion of children's and young adult literature.

 

Diversity Statement

Introduction

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are core values that Children’s Literature Council of Southern California (CLCSC) seeks to embed in all areas of the organization. Purposefully centering equity and inclusion moves the organization away from simply discussing diversity and into actions that can alleviate the unequal power dynamics that have historically, and systemically, excluded or erased important voices in the organization and in the field of youth literature.

Our commitment

We aspire to actively support youth literature that reflects on children’s own experiences, sheds light into the lives of children elsewhere, and provides an empathetic pathway from one to the other, informed by the works of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop (1990). We also support the idea of literary “prisms”, as presented by Uma Krishnaswami, that books can, and should, showcase and challenge us to explore the multifaceted and intersectional ideas, identities, and histories that make up our world (2019). We continue to research, listen, and learn from diverse voices, scholars, and activists to stay current with new views and theories as they relate to children and children’s literature.

We seek out and involve diverse members from the wide community of people who create, use, and engage with children’s literature.  We actively recruit Board Leadership that reflects the diversity of Southern California.  When we work and learn with people from various backgrounds, we can solve problems more creatively, and develop our strengths.  However, merely acknowledging diversity in and of itself is not enough.  We are committed to addressing inequities that exist within the world of children’s literature.  When we do this, we further our mission to promote enriching, relevant, and timely youth literature. 

Put into Practice

We will:

  • Recruit and sustain a diverse board and membership

  • Create literature-based events that reflect the various experiences and professional needs of the Southern California community that serve youth

  • Invite incisive, candid discussions that encourage critical examinations of our current ways of thinking and serving youth

  • Celebrate inclusive, diverse, quality youth literature that empowers, informs and challenges the community at large

  • Maintain a climate of fairness, cooperation, and respect

  • Confront and appropriately respond to acts of discrimination or exclusion

Closing thoughts

Working towards equity, diversity, and inclusion is an ongoing process and calls for us as an organization to be adaptable and responsive, always with the goal in mind to strive for a better way to include and amplify diverse voices.

 

Definitions

Equity

Equity differs from equality. Equality implies sameness. Equity, on the other hand, assumes the necessity of difference and takes it into account to ensure access to a fair process and, ideally , a fairly attainable outcome. Equity recognizes that some groups do not have equal access to  educational and employment opportunities and are, therefore, underrepresented, marginalized or even non-existent in many organizations and institutions. The effects of this exclusion often linger systemically within organizational policies, practices and procedures. Equity, therefore, means increasing diversity by ameliorating conditions of disadvantaged groups. [adapted from ALA] 

Diversity

Diversity can be defined as the sum of the ways that people are both alike and different. Visible diversity is generally those attributes or characteristics that are external. However, diversity also includes internal, unseen characteristics that can be defined as ‘invisible’ diversity. When we recognize, value, and embrace diversity in all its forms, we are recognizing, valuing, and embracing the uniqueness of each individual in our society. [adapted from ALA]

Diversity creates opportunities for people to engage, understand and cultivate respect for those  whose perspectives, values, beliefs, traditions, and world views have been shaped by different circumstances, particularly those from historically marginalized and minimized  populations. These differences may include, but are not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, religion, language, socioeconomic status, citizenship status, national origin, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, age, neurological difference, and physical ability. [adapted from UW] 

Inclusion

Inclusion means an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully; are valued for their distinctive abilities, skills, experiences, and perspectives; have equal access to resources and opportunities; and can contribute fully to the organization’s success. [from ALA]

 

References

Bishop, Rudine Sims (1990). Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors. Perspectives: Choosing and Using Books for the Classroom, 6(3).

Krishnaswami, Uma. (2019, January/February). Why stop at mirrors and windows? Children’s book prisms. Horn Book 95(1), 54-59.