ILA DEI Retreat
April 10-11, 2025
Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference
What is the ILA DEI Retreat?
Developed by ILA Diversity Committee Co-chair Anjelica Rufus-Barnes and organized by the ILA DEI Retreat Planning Committee, comprised of members of the ILA Diversity Committee and ILA Executive Board DEI Subcomittee, and it is designed for Illinois library workers, specifically support and management staff, who are either part of a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee or task force, or who are interested in learning how to establish one within their library.
DEI committees and task forces across Illinois libraries, especially public libraries, vary greatly in approach and impact, ranging from highly active to more passive or even performative efforts.
This retreat, led by an expert speaker and facilitators—including staff from the Illinois library community who champion DEI in their libraries and the profession—will guide attendees in forming DEI committees or task forces and provide strategies for fostering inclusive and equitable planning, training, and programming. Participants will leave with tools to establish a clear purpose and a well-defined scope of work.
When is the ILA DEI Retreat?
This two day retreat is scheduled for April 10-11, 2025, at the Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Normal, Illinois.
Who can attend?
The retreat was created and designed for Illinois library workers, specifically support and management staff, who are either part of a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee or task force, or who are interested in learning how to establish one within their library. A limited number of library directors will be accepted to participate.
What is the cost to attend the ILA DEI Retreat?
If you are accepted to participate as an attendee, you will be required to pay a $100 fee* and will be responsible for your travel expenses. Materials, lodging, and meals will be covered by the registration fee and support from the Illinois State Library using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Upon completion of the retreat, attendees will receive a certificate of completion and will be asked to provide a report one year from the date of retreat on their work in creating any DEI task force or committee at their library.
Those interested in participating in this retreat, either as a facilitator or an attendee, you must complete and submit an application by Friday, December 20, 2024. Notification of acceptance will be sent out by Monday, January 20, 2025.
If you have any questions about this important initiative, please contact ILA Communication and Engagement Manager Tamara Jenkins at tjenkins@ila.org.
* If the registration fee is prohibitive, please contact Tamara Jenkins at tjenkins@ila.org.
Apply to attend
Apply to be a facilitator
Speaker
Heather Hathaway Miranda, M.A. is a highly articulate bilingual, bicultural Latina and an award-winning, international speaker with over 25 years of multidisciplinary experience as a researcher and educator specializing in a range of academic subjects intersecting race, ethnicity, class, gender, and disparity. Heather is fierce when it comes to injustice.
As a scholar-activist, TRHT Greater Chicago-trained racial healing practitioner, and consultant through Hathaway Miranda LLC, her passion is to advocate for underserved communities by raising consciousness about oppressive issues, practices, and systems locally, nationally, and internationally. She has worked professionally with issues of diversity & inclusion and has utilized Spanish for over 3 decades from research to high school and university classrooms to community work.
She is the Founder and Owner of Hathaway Miranda LLC through which she offers keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, consulting, coaching, teaching, and racial healing. She aims to be a compassionate servant leader. Some of her clients/partnerships include the American Medical Association, AARP, University of Illinois, Michigan State University, R.Evolución Latina, Ballet Hispánico, Universidad de Guanajuato, Millikin University, THRT Greater Chicago, Windy City Rollers, Chicago Public Schools, and PODERworks.
Facilitators
Pascuala Herrera, a Mexican immigrant woman with a physical disability due to childhood Polio, had a successful 30-year career as a college professor and Accessibility Specialist at Harper College in Palatine Illinois, until her retirement in June 2020. In this role, she assisted thousands of students, especially those with disabilities, in and outside of a classroom.
Since her retirement, she has written and published four books which all include versions in Spanish. Her first book, Not Always a Valley of Tears won the Soon to be Famous IL Author Project Award for the Spanish category, De la Pagina a La Fama, earning Pascuala the distinction of being the 2022 Indy Author of the Year.
She is a frequent local and national presenter on the topic of her life experience, disability awareness, creating accessible learning environments, diversity equity and inclusion, motivation, and the importance of education for individuals with disabilities and Latinos.
Stephen Jackson is a motivational speaker, founder of Global CommUnity Associates, Co-Founder of the CornerStones of Restorative Healing, and Director of Equity and Anti-Racism at Oak Park Public Library (IL). He values public service and contributing to people’s lives through utilizing both Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices to create positive and safe cultures for organizations and communities.
In 2016 he participated in the inaugural work of the integration of social services in Oak Park Public Library, becoming just the 4th library in the nation to hire a social worker on staff. He has held a variety of roles, including Social Services Specialist, Teen Services Coordinator, Manager of Teen Services and in 2021 he became the libraries’ first Director of Equity and Anti Racism.
In his work he has developed relationships with dozens of library institutions across the nation that face similar challenges in wanting to dismantle systemic racist and oppressive systems that hinder relationships, disrupt productivity and the overall well-being of organizations and the individuals affiliated with them.
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