Diversity speaks with many voices!
This region of SCBWI serves; Marin, Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Contra Costa, Mendocino and Alameda counties. We are a vibrant community of ideas, events and creativity to help you improve your craft and knowledge of children’s writing and illustration. Our entire region and all its programs are run by volunteers, we’re always happy to have more people step up to help! We welcome and celebrate writers and illustrators from a broad spectrum of backgrounds through a threefold vision.
1) Reach. We hope to reach out into our communities to highlight all the resources and support available to prospective members from diverse communities not previously aware of SCBWI.
2) Include. We seek to include and support more creators and characters from groups that have been historically under-represented.
3) Belong. We seek to foster a warm, welcoming environment, sense of belonging for all, and understanding that everyone has a voice in children’s literature.
What is Tapestry of Voices?
An initiative in SCBWI North/East Bay for those who want to REACH, INCLUDE, and BELONG by committing to:
• Create children’s literature that reflects the rich tapestry of the world and the diversity of all the people who live in it.
• Celebrate all voices, and finding ways to center under-represented voices in our professional conversations, organization, and work.
• Support each other’s careers across all identities and experiences.
SCBWI Statement on Equity and Inclusion
At SCBWI, we recognize that publicly committing to equity and inclusion is crucial to our membership and the readers we serve. Words, stories, and images are powerful: They define who we are for ourselves and for others.
Historically, content creation that reaches a wide audience of children and teens has been intertwined with a legacy of privilege, oppression, bias, and racism. We acknowledge that, as part of the children’s publishing industry, we share in that legacy. We accept the challenge and responsibility of becoming agents of change by affirming the need for increased representation in every facet of the children’s and YA book industry, including but not limited to race/ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender and gender identity, socioeconomic status, geography, citizenship, and religion.
To fulfill our mission of supporting the creation and availability of quality books for every young reader in all regions of the world, we commit to championing equity and inclusion throughout our organization by striving to:
• identify and dismantle inequities within our policies and practices
• expand inclusivity in our leadership, membership, and volunteer corps
• increase the social consciousness of our members through substantive learning opportunities
• continually examine and renew that commitment in our events, programming, online initiatives, publications, awards and grants, community outreach, and education efforts
• As creators of books for children and teens, we have both a unique responsibility and a powerful opportunity to help young people create an equitable, inclusive world. We look forward to listening, learning, and leading.