As part of the True Colours Quilt Along 2025, CQA/ACC is collecting material for quilters who wish to learn more about the challenges faced by all marginalized people and how we can all help to make welcoming and safe spaces for everyone. CQA/ACC invites you to suggest website links to add to our resources by emailing your ideas to membership@canadianquilter.com.
Have you ever been to an event where people barely spoke to you? Did you ever get the impression you can’t participate fully in an event activity because you are too young, too old, the wrong gender, not capable enough, too different, have a disability, or have a same-sex partner?
It can be challenging to understand how this feels if you’ve never experienced it; if you’ve never felt unwelcome in a meeting, been afraid to speak up and ask a question, or been unable to participate fully. But, these are the experiences of many people all the time in the same meetings that you may feel perfectly comfortable in.
All of these are examples of discrimination, ageism, and exclusion, and may indicate lack diversity, equity, and accessibility. To some, this type of behaviour is harmless or unintentional. However, to the person who feels excluded, it can be hurtful and frustrating.
Understanding how to avoid these situations, to ensure everyone feels welcome and able to engage, allows you to create safe and supportive environments for everyone.
Here are a few steps an organization can take to be more inclusive (some of these steps are easier than others):
- Active listening and with empathy – Actively listen to each other with the goal to understand other perspectives. Pay attention, ask questions, avoid making assumptions, allow the person to finish speaking.
- Communicate concisely, clearly, and respectfully – Use inclusive language, avoid acronyms/abbreviations/slang. There may be participants who are not familiar with the terms.
- Value differences and inclusion – Celebrate differences and similarities. Provide equal opportunities for participation in events, activities, learning, and resources.
- Encourage community, collaboration, and creativity – Create a safe and supportive space to share ideas, opinions, and feedback. Encourage diversity through creativity.
- Inspire each other – Lead by example, show support, and offer words of encouragement.
- Accessibility – Ensure that there are no barriers that prevent people from participating in a meeting or activity. For example, ensure that speakers have access to a microphone and that they use it, even if they feel their voice is loud enough. Ask the group for suggestions about how to make the space more accessible to everyone.
- Education– Provide diversity, equity, and inclusion training to guild and board members.
Building a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment can be challenging, as everyone may not share the same goals or priorities. The best place to start is with an open conversation. A good goal to keep in mind: Speak less; listen more.
If your guild has adopted good practices for increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion, please share your ideas in the CQA/ACC Quilting Projects group on Facebook.
Resources:
- Diversity in Quilting by Adrianne @ On the Windy Side
- How can you create a welcoming and inclusive environment?
- What is Inclusion?
- Inclusive Workplace
- New Study on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion A Wakeup Call for White-led Nonprofit Organizations
- On Becoming a More Inclusive Guild, by Bill Stearman
