MAC Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

As one of the nation’s largest regional professional associations for archivists, MAC is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility as core values. As an association that serves archivists across the profession, MAC benefits from the participation of people from all backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our members, programming, and the communities we serve reflect these values. MAC is strongly committed to providing an environment of cooperation and collaboration. Similarly, we aim to provide an environment in which all participants have a sense of belonging, where they may learn, network, and enjoy the company of colleagues in an environment of mutual respect in all physical and online spaces, including events, committee work, social media, forums, and in other activities. MAC is dedicated to expanding membership, participation, and leadership to include historically underrepresented voices and their allies and to advance DEIA in the profession at large.

MAC understands diversity as:

• Socio-cultural factor related to individual and community identity such as color, ability, family relationship, gender identity/expression, individual lifestyle, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
• Professional and geographic factors, reflecting the association’s desire for broad participation from archivists working in various location, repository types and sizes, employment classifications and rank, and professional specializations.

MAC recognizes equity as:

• Nondiscriminatory and unbiased access to educational, funding, leadership, and award opportunities for all individuals, regardless of sociocultural, professional, and geographic identities.
• Fair pay, benefits, and labor practices for all archives workers, including students, temporary and contract employees, paraprofessionals, and professionals.

MAC identifies inclusion as:

• A commitment to ongoing and cumulative efforts (e.g., policies, principles, practices, activities, and infrastructures) that take responsibility for creating and increasingly diverse community in a welcoming, equitable, and responsive manner.
• Continuous proactive steps to center the experiences of marginalized members of our organization and ensure they are recognized, respected, and included.

MAC understands accessibility as:

• A commitment to ensuring equitable access to our resources, programming, and services.

Because discrimination and unequal treatment are inimical to MAC’s goals, discrimination on the grounds of age, color, political and religious beliefs, ability, family relationship, gender identity/expression, individual lifestyle, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status is prohibited within the association. MAC will pursue a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity through its programs, activities, services, operations, employment, and business contracts.