Equity, diVERsitY & Inclusion
PATA offers a variety of educational opportunities throughout the year. Members receive discounted or FREE registration to many of these events. If you are considering registering for an event, please consider becoming a member, and start saving today!
photo credit: Alex Haslett
What is PATA’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?
The Portland Area Theatre Alliance believes in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Through our mission to support our region’s theatre community, we pledge the following:
- We will not tolerate discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, economic standing, ability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, language, or age.
- We will be intentional and hold ourselves accountable in our steps towards becoming a more equitable and inclusive organization.
- We will examine everything we do currently or plan to do in the future through the lens of equity to ensure that we are uplifting all members of our community.
- We will establish new and strengthen old relationships with community organizations that are actively working to increase equitable practices.
- We will defer to and uplift the voices of members of marginalized communities regarding their needs.
- We will provide resources and referral information to members in regard to anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices.
- We will adapt and change because this work is never done.
This commitment is integral to our mission of promoting opportunity, innovation, and collaboration within our region’s theatre community.
EDI Resources
The following are three programs that PATA has used to education our board and to help us develop standards that we wish to help uphold in the Portland Theatre Community. To learn more about the programs, click on the plus icon and follow the links provided.
The Chicago Theatre Standards
The Chicago Theatre Standards (CTS) is voluntary, cost-free, and not subject to enforcement by any outside body. In adopting this document, organizations state their intentions through procedures designed to help them live by those intentions. Participants who work with organizations that adopt the CTS endorse these intentions by reading the document and following its procedures and protocols. All involved are encouraged to call attention to situations when these intentions are not being met by using the reporting channels herein.
We See You White American Theatre
In reaction to civil unrest in our country, Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) theatremakers—formed a collective of multi-generational, multi-disciplinary, early career, emerging and established artists, theater managers, executives, students, administrators, dramaturges and producers, to address the scope and pervasiveness of anti-Blackness and racism in the American theater. Their response was to draft a strong testimonial letter, ‘DEAR WHITE AMERICAN THEATER’, collectively crafted by theatremakers from across the country, exposing the indignities and racism that BIPOC, and in particular Black theatremakers, face on a day-to-day basis in the theater industry. This website is the culmination of their work and a great resource shared to provide an anti-racist environment for theatre-makers and theate-goeres.
"Me Too" movement
In 2006, the “me too.” Movement was founded by survivor and activist Tarana Burke. In those early years, they developed their vision to bring resources, support, and pathways to healing where none existed before. And they built a community of advocates determined to interrupt sexual violence wherever it happens.Their work continues to focus on assisting a growing spectrum of survivors — young people, queer, trans, the disabled, Black women and girls, and all communities of color. They exist to help each individual find the right point of entry for their unique healing journey. But they’re also galvanizing a broad base of survivors, and work to disrupt the systems that allow sexual violence to proliferate in our world. This includes insisting upon accountability on the part of perpetrators, along with the implementation of strategies to sustain long term, systemic change. So that one day, nobody ever has to say “me too” again.
Implicit Bias Workshop
This workshop made possible through funding from the Regional Arts & Culture Council.
The Social Justice From The H.E.A.R.T. workshop focuses on transforming conversations about racism by beginning the difficult process of de-centering whiteness as the domininant culture, identifying white supremacist behavior patters, while recognizing our unconscious biases and anti-blackness.
Participants will learn:
- 5 simple steps to an Effective Conversation about Racism
- How to Overcome Fear
- How to Take Care of Yourself
- How to Have a Voice
- How to Be an Ally
This workshop is available to any paying PATA member. If you would like a copy of this workshop for you or your member organization, please use the form below to request a copy.
