09/27/2022

The Importance of DE&I in Advocacy Efforts

Diverse advocates lead to greater advocacy

In March 2022, ASAE hosted its annual American Associations Day in Washington, D.C., an advocacy event to inform association professionals and federal legislators about current policy issues. What was new this year was a stronger focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in advocacy.

As part of that event, a panel discussed ASAE's conscious inclusion strategy, which seeks to pull in professionals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to enrich association capabilities. That panel included Renata Beca-Barragán, who is legislative director for Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY).

Many association professionals know Velázquez for her work to secure the inclusion of 501(c)(6) organizations in the Paycheck Protection Program, as well as for her role as chair of the House Small Business Committee. People may not know that she is the first Puerto Rican woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Hispanic woman to serve as a senior leader of a Congressional committee. 

Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE’s Center for Association Leadership.