The Power of Conversation: LTR Conference
Richland Library
Innovation Synopsis
Richland Library's work surrounding race, equity, and inclusion is highly regarded and sought after for discussions, webinars, and conferences. The library created an open-source Let’s Talk Race Curriculum in 2023, which provides a free facilitation training, a digital toolkit, produced video segments, and print collateral for libraries and other organizations that want to create similar programs.
Richland Library hosted The Power of Conversation: Let’s Talk Race Facilitator Conference from September 11 – 13, 2024, in Columbia, SC. The event brought together over 40 participants from libraries and organizations across the US. The conference included a Let’s Talk Race session with participants, a national keynote speaker (Chris Singleton), and panel discussions on how to use data to inform your programs and policies when using an EDI lens, and how to support inclusion and accessibility in public spaces.
Challenge/Opportunity
In the shadow of a devastating worldwide pandemic, Columbia, SC, like many cities around the nation, continues to grapple with issues surrounding social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. As stated by ULC, “there is an urgent need for libraries to do the hard, foundational work of facing and actively addressing the racism internal to our institutions and our profession.”
Richland Library's Let's Talk Race team helps citizens step out of their comfort zones to explore topics that may be uncomfortable but necessary for fully understanding the lives of their coworkers and neighbors. By utilizing trained staff to create safe spaces for individuals to explore issues of race, social justice, and equality, Richland Library has demonstrated how libraries can serve as community conveners, providing the public with insight, information, and a new perspective during times of crisis.
Key Elements of Innovation
We created a free, online toolkit for orgs to start their own Let’s Talk Race (LTR) experience in their communities. It allows orgs to customize the program and make it their own.
• 75 downloads since June 2024 (655 since 2023) with a global reach.
We invited curriculum users and others interested in this work to the Power of Conversation: LTR Facilitator Conference (September 11 - 13, 2024) to bring curriculum users together for a shared, facilitated experience, leading other communities to create their own LTR discussions and programs that not only increase community connections but also encourage courageous conversations. The conference gathered and trained over 40 participants from libraries & organizations across the US. Participants experienced an LTR session featuring national and local keynote speakers, panel discussions on utilizing data to inform programs and policies through an EDI lens, and strategies for supporting inclusion and accessibility in public spaces.
Achieved Outcomes
Richland Library successfully hosted 40 curriculum users and EDI professionals interested in the curriculum to provide feedback on their experience using the newly created LTR open-sourced tools. We provided an opportunity for participants to meet with library staff and receive more hands-on guidance on starting their programs. We demonstrated to organizations how to apply an EDI lens to their programs and policies.
The conference presented LTR sessions for curriculum users and other participants, keynote addresses from Chris Singleton and Beth Ruffin, and panel discussions on how to use data to inform your programs and policies when using an EDI lens, how to support inclusion and accessibility in public spaces, and how organizations can use experiences and VR technology to support their EDI work among other impactful sessions.
As a result of the conference, AARP designated the curriculum as adding to livability in communities, listing videos and guides on their AARP Livable Map.
