The Collaborating Partners* organizations will host Creating Inclusive Libraries: Gender and Sexuality Awareness, an online event series beginning July 7. Be sure to register now to attend the series of webinars. The cost to attend the series of sessions is $25 for all 3 together. For more information and to register, go to: https://www.mmlcevents.info/events/collaborating-partners-2020/ Session 1 - Resiliency Rising & Shining Out - Tuesday, July 7, 2020 from noon to 1:15 pm eastern time Presented by Graci Harkema (she/her/hers) This session will feature a keynote on inclusive leadership, allyship, and living as your true self, by Graci Harkema, an experienced diversity and inclusion consultant with Graci LLC. Graci Harkema specializes in equity and inclusive leadership training within the Fortune 500, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. She is currently writing a book on her story, including her experience as a person of color and as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community in Michigan. Session 2 - Supporting LGBTQIA+ Patrons & Staff in Libraries - Tuesday, July 14, 2020 from 1-1:30 pm eastern time Presented by Kelly Boston (she/her/hers) This session will go over basic information and terminology in regards to gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as how intersectionality with race, disability, and more shape the identities of library patrons. Best practices for inclusivity for patrons and staff will be shared. We will also cover the concept of self-censorship during collection development, the importance of including materials with characters and information that represent all patrons including LGBTQIA+, and will include resources to guide you if they are challenged. Kelly Boston is a certified school library media specialist in Michigan, and holds an MLIS degree and ND school library endorsement. She is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and lives with her wife and two cats, Calvin and Hobbes, in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she serves on the Grand Rapids Public Library Board of Commissioners. Session 3 - Building (More) Inclusive Libraries - Tuesday, July 21, 2020 from noon to 1:30 pm eastern time. Presented by Dr. Jessica Garcia (she/her/hers) In this session we will discuss the business case for diversity and inclusion as it applies to library staff and members, introduce the concept of implicit bias and how it shows up, and actionable steps to reduce bias in our encounters. Jessica Garcia, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of Hummingbird Solutions, LLC, a diversity and inclusion consulting firm. In this role, she offers business and community members the tools and resources to create and sustain inclusive environments for their employees, clients, and constituents. Garcia has consulted with and trained thousands of participants across a wide range of industries in the public and private sectors providing interactive, customized services on topics such as best business practices; implicit bias and microaggressions; bystander intervention; inclusive leadership; recruitment, retention, and advancement; and inclusive teaching. In addition to her work with Hummingbird Solutions, LLC, Garcia serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Manager for the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan. Prior to joining the University of Michigan, she held a joint position in the Department of Sociology and the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives at Michigan State University. She earned her bachelor's and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University in Sociology. The cost to attend the series is $25. For more information and to register, go to: https://www.mmlcevents.info/events/collaborating-partners-2020/ *Collaborating Partners are: Library of Michigan Michigan Academic Library Association (MiALA) Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME) Michigan Cooperative Directors Association Michigan Library Association (MLA) Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS)