SGMP Statement on Racial Equity and Inclusion

• By: SGMP
• On: 06/26/2020 15:22:20
• In: Membership

SGMP Statement on Racial Equity and Inclusion
 
The United States is at a crossroads. Recent examples of police brutality and widespread protests have renewed a national conversation about uncomfortable truths in our society that have become even more visible due to technology. Institutional racism, discrimination and injustice continue to exist for people of color and other marginalized segments of our country.  
 
The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) has always stood for equity, nondiscrimination, diversity and inclusion. We have built these principles into our organization with our core competency education, CGMP certification, and in the training and programming we provide our members. However, there are inequities in the workplace and injustices within our country.   This is unacceptable to us, and we are committed to ensuring every government meeting professional – both planners and suppliers - has the connections, leadership opportunities and education available for them to succeed.
 
Nevertheless, there is still more SGMP can do and more we can learn to make this a reality for all. As meeting professionals striving for the highest levels of professionalism and ethics, we recognize that we do not have all the answers. However, we take up the challenge to listen to all perspectives and commit to looking internally for more ways to be problem solvers and part of the solution.
 
The following are actions SGMP will take up to begin this journey:
 

• A new webinar, “Recognizing the Impact of Unconscious and Implicit Bias” with Sharon Delvisco, will be offered to members on July 30 at 1:00 pm ET.
• In August, we will rebroadcast a webinar, “Inclusive Meeting Design” with Antwone Stigall, CMP, DES, and hold a discussion session afterwards.
• We will continue to share programs educating our members about inclusivity, diversity, bias, and non-discrimination.
• We will re-evaluate our core educational competencies, ethics statements and overall policies to ensure SGMP is inclusive, non-discriminatory and supports efforts against social injustice.
• We will create a working group to determine ways for SGMP to actively increase diversity amongst our national and chapter leadership positions.

 
Please contact SGMP Executive Director Pamela Valenzuela, CAE, p.valenzuela@sgmp.org, and SGMP National Board President Michelle A. Milligan, MSW, LMSW, CGMP, Michelle.Milligan@3rdcc.org, with feedback or ideas you have as we strive for a more inclusive society within SGMP and our country. 
 
# # #
The Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) was founded in 1981 and is the only national organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to individuals who plan and execute government meetings. We deliver value of education, resources and networking to 2,000 members in 19 chapters across the country. Our mission is to enhance and promote the expertise of government meeting professionals. For more information, please visit www.sgmp.org.