Smithsonian 

Diversity and Inclusion 

Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Overview 3

Executive Summary 4

Secretary 15

Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 15

Under Secretary for Administration 18

Office of Human Resources 18

Smithsonian Enterprises 19

Under Secretary for Education 23

Office of the Under Secretary for Education 23

Smithsonian Center for Learning & Digital Access 25

Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service/

Smithsonian Affiliations 27

Smithsonian Science Education Center 37

The Smithsonian Associates 52

Under Secretary for Museums & Culture 67

Archives of American Art 67

National Museum of African Art 78

National Museum of African American History and Culture 78

National Museum of American History 79

Smithsonian American Art Museum 93

Under Secretary for Science & Research 114

National Museum of Natural History 114

National Zoological Park/

Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute 119

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 120

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 121

Assistant Secretary for Advancement 122

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 2
• Program Diversity

• Supplier Diversity

• Workforce Diversity

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, 18 units submitted more than 480 initiatives that also included virtual programs. The 129-page report consists of an 

executive summary and supporting information. For quick access to your unit’s information, please see the table of contents.

The DIIR demonstrates the Smithsonian’s ongoing commitment to reflect the nation’s pluralism in its workforces, programs, and business 

relationships.

The OEESD staff expresses their appreciation to all the units who participated in the development of this report and for their support in fostering 

diversity and inclusion and greater collaborations as One Smithsonian.

OVERVIEW

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 3

Diversity and inclusion are integral to all aspects of the Smithsonian Institution's operations and key components of the Smithsonian Strategic Plan.

The Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity (OEESD) developed and published the first Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report (DIIR) in

FY2014. The purpose of this initiative is to capture and report on the multiplicity of diversity and inclusion related activities around the Institution.

Published annually over the last eight years, the DIIR has documented more than 3,800 Smithsonian Institution diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The Report’s data is drawn from a SharePoint website that allows units to submit any and all efforts they identify as meeting the criteria of a diversity

and inclusion initiative. To help identify what can be included in this report, units are encouraged to consider programs, activities, recruitment, and

outreach efforts that fall under the following three categories:
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 4

Secretary OUSA OUSE OUSMC OUSSR ASA

# of Initiatives 16 30 140 249 29 26

# of STEM 1 7 24 25 3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Initiatives by Direct Report

*Communities with limited and/or under-funded access to educational resources and technology.

**Includes: Multigenerational Families, English Language Learners, Latinx and Spanish Speakers, BIPOC Women, Rural 

Communities, Middle Eastern Community

15%

11%

13%

9% 10%

10%

8%

9%

15%

0.5%

Percent Served by Race and Ethnicity

(Units often target more than one group)

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals w/Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-Resourced Communities*

Women

Other **

65

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (SI)

The goal was to increase the recognition of SI brand to under-served communities and increase representation in SI’s workforce, supplier base and public programming. More than 480 initiatives

were submitted by 18 SI units with 125 classified as STEM initiatives. All historically underrepresented groups were represented in the diversity and inclusion initiatives. The highest percent of

initiatives (15% respectively) targeted African Americans and women. The percentage of initiatives aimed at historically underrepresented groups greatly exceeded their representation in the

Civilian Labor Force. This report also includes residents of under-resourced communities and the LGBTQIA+ community. While these groups and others have no recognized percentage of

reference, they are an important focus in SI’s efforts to increase and diffuse knowledge across the United States and around the world.
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 5

84%

4%

12%

Initiatives by Category

(Units often choose more than one category

Program Diversity

Supplier Diversity

Workforce Diversity

9%

10%

10%

16%

12%

11%

32%

Audience Age Groups

(Units often target more than one group)

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (5th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (CONT.)

Diversity and inclusion are categorized into three areas: Program, Supplier and Workforce Diversity. All three categories were represented. At 84%, program diversity was the largest category.

While only 4% of the reported initiatives fell under supplier diversity, SI awarded 28% of the dollars spent to small businesses with 2% awarded to 8(a)small and disadvantaged businesses, 18% 

awarded to non-8(a) small disadvantaged businesses, 15% awarded to women-owned small businesses, 1% awarded to HUB Zone businesses, and 1% awarded to service-disabled 

veteran-owned small businesses. The majority of initiatives targeted adults (32%).
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

The Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity submitted 16 initiatives, of which one was STEM. All historically underrepresented groups were represented at a rate that either met or 

exceeded their percentage in the Civilian Labor Force. At 36%, supplier diversity was the largest category. The majority of initiatives targeted adults (57%).

*Communities with limited and/or under-funded access to educational resources and technology.

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 6

11%

11%

11%

12% 12%

12%

12%

7% 12%

Percent Served by Race & Ethnicity

(Units often target more than one group)

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals w/Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-Resourced Communities*

Women

32%

36%

32%

Initiative by Category

(Units often choose more than one category)

Program Diversity

Supplier Diversity

Workforce Diversity

4% 4%

9%

13%

9%

4%

57%

Audience Age Groups

(Units often target more than one group)

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (5th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

OHR SE

# of Initiatives 6 24

STEM

Initiatives 0 7

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Initiatives by Unit

20%

12%

13% 7% 9%

13%

9%

2%

15%

Percent Served by Race & Ethnicity

(Units often target more than one group)

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals w/Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-Resourced Communities*

Women

*Communities with limited and/or under-funded access to educational resources and technology.

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 7

72%

6%

22%

Initiatives by Category

(Units often choose more than one category)

Program Diversity

Supplier Diversity

Workforce Diversity

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION (USA)

Thirty initiatives were submitted by 2 USA units (OHR and SE), of which 7 were STEM. All historically underrepresented groups were represented at a rate that either met or exceeded their

percentage in the Civilian Labor Force. The highest percent (20%) of initiatives were geared towards African Americans. All three diversity categories were represented. At 72%, program diversity

was the largest category. While only 6% of the reported initiatives fell under supplier diversity, USA awarded 31% of the dollars spent to small businesses with 3% awarded to 8(a) small and 

disadvantaged businesses, 18% awarded to non-8(a) small and disadvantaged businesses, 17% awarded to women-owned small businesses, 2% awarded to HUB Zone businesses, and 1% awarded

to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. All initiatives targeted adults.
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity

OUSE SCLDA SITES/SA SSEC TSA

# of Initiatives 7 11 44 47 31

STEM Initiatives 3 4 47 1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Initiatives by Unit

15%

11%

11%

9% 9%

9%

9%

12%

15%

0.5%

Percent Served by Race & Ethnicity

(Units often target more than one group)

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals w/Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-Resourced Communities*

Women

Other **

*Communities with limited and/or under-funded access to educational resources and technology.

**Includes: Multigenerational Families, English Language Learners

8

10

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNDER SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION (USE)

More than 135 initiatives were submitted by 5 USE units (OUSE, SCLDA, SITES/SA, SSEC, TSA). Sixty-five were STEM initiatives. All historically underrepresented groups were represented at a 

rate that either met or exceeded their percentage in the Civilian Labor Force. The highest percent (15%) of initiatives were geared towards African Americans and women.
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 9

97%

3%

Initiatives by Category

(Units often choose more than category)

Program Diversity

Workforce Diversity

13%

13%

12%

10% 12%

9%

31%

Audience Age Groups

(Units often target more than one group)

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (5th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNDER SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION (CONT.)

At 97%, program diversity was the largest category. Although none of the reported initiatives fell under supplier diversity, USE awarded 16% of the dollars spent to small businesses with 7% 

awarded to non-8(a) small and disadvantaged businesses, 12% awarded to women-owned small businesses, and 2% awarded to HUB Zone businesses. The majority of initiatives targeted 

adults (31%).
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNDER SECRETARY FOR MUSEUMS & CULTURE (USMC)

More than 240 initiatives were submitted by 5 USMC units (AAA, NMAAHC, NMAfA, NMAH and SAAM). Twenty-four were STEM initiatives. All historically underrepresented groups were 

represented at a rate that either met or exceeded their percentage in the Civilian Labor Force. The highest percent (18%) of initiatives were geared towards women. 

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 10

AAA NMAAHC NMAfA NMAH SAAM

# of Initiatives 62 4 2 84 97

# of STEM Initiatives 2 4 2 13 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Initiatives by Unit

17%

11%

17%

7% 9%

8%

5%

7%

18%

1%

Percent Served by Race & Ethnicity

(Units often target more than one group)

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals w/Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-Resourced Communities*

Women

Other **

*Communities with limited and/or under-funded access to educational resources and technology.

**Includes: Latinx, Spanish Speakers, BIPOC Women, Individuals who were Formerly Incarcerated, Rural Communities, Middle 

Eastern Community
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 11

92%

1%

7%

Initiatives by Category

(Units often choose more than one category)

Program Diversity

Supplier Diversity

Workforce Diversity

8%

10%

11%

18%

13%

7%

33%

Audience Age Group

(Units often target more than one group)

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (5th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNDER SECRETARY FOR MUSEUMS & CULTURE (CONT.)

All three categories were represented. At 92% program diversity was the largest category. While 1% of reported initiatives fell under supplier diversity, OUSMC awarded 40% of dollars spent to

small businesses with 1% awarded to 8(a) small and disadvantaged businesses, 27% awarded to non-8(a) small disadvantaged businesses, 25% awarded to women-owned small businesses, 1% 

awarded to service-disabled and veteran-owned small businesses. The majority of initiatives targeted adults (33%).
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNDER SECRETARY FOR SCIENCE & RESEARCH (USSR)

Twenty-nine initiatives were submitted by 4 USSR units (NMNH, NZP-SCBI, SAO and STRI). Twenty-five were STEM initiatives. All historically underrepresented groups were represented at a rate 

that either met or exceeded their percentage in the Civilian Labor Force. The highest percent (12%) of initiatives were geared towards Asian Americans, Hispanics and women. 

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 12

NMNH NZP-SCBI SAO STRI

# of Initiatives 20 3 4 2

# of STEM Initiatives 16 3 4 2

0

5

10

15

20

25

Initiatives by Unit

11%

12%

12%

10%

11%

11%

11%

10%

12%

Percent Served by Race & Ethnicity

(Units often target more than one group)

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals w/Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-Resourced Communities*

Women

*Communities with limited and/or under-funded access to educational resources and technology.
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 13

7% 64%

29%

Initiatives by Category

(Units often choose more than one category)

Program Diversity

Supplier Diversity

Workforce Diversity

13%

14%

15%

12%

14%

8%

24%

Audience by Age Group

(Units often target more than one group)

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (5th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNDER SECRETARY FOR SCIENCE & RESEARCH (CONT.)

All three categories were represented. At 64% program diversity was the largest category. While 7% of reported initiatives fell under supplier diversity, OUSSR awarded 16% of dollars spent to

small businesses with 0.1% awarded to 8(a) small and disadvantaged businesses, 10% awarded to non-8(a) small disadvantaged businesses, 10% awarded women-owned small businesses, 

0.1% awarded to HUB Zone businesses, and 0.4% awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The majority of initiatives targeted adults (24%).
Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report

Fiscal Year 2021

Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 14

11%

11%

12%

11%

11%

11%

11%

11%

11%

Percent Served by Race & Ethnicity

(Units often target more than one group)

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals w/Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-Resourced Communities*

Women

49%

12%

39%

Initiatives by Category

(Units often choose more than one category)

Program Diversity

Supplier Diversity

Workforce Diversity

15%

15%

12%

58%

Audience by Age Group

(Units often target more than one group)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR ADVANCEMENT

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Advancement (ASA) submitted 26 initiatives. Three were STEM. All historically underrepresented groups were represented at a rate that either met or

exceeded their percentage in the Civilian Labor Force. The highest percent (12%) of initiatives were geared towards Hispanics. All three categories were represented. At 49%, program diversity was

the largest category. While 12% of reported initiatives fell under supplier diversity, ASA awarded 24% of dollars spent to small businesses with 19% awarded to non-8(a) small and disadvantaged 

businesses, 20% awarded to women-owned small businesses, and 1% awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The majority of initiatives targets adults (58%).
Direct

Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Secretary OEESD

SDP Liaison 

Meetings

Held monthly SDP Liaison meetings to assist the Smithsonian to achieve it's supplier 

diversity goals. SDP Liaisons to serve as the point of contact for OEESD and OCon&PPM 

regarding accomplishment of the Smithsonian Institution Supplier Diversity Program goals 

for the inclusion and use of various categories of small and underutilized business by unit 

procurement delegates. As small businesses are identified at workshops, seminars, and/or 

meetings the SDP and/or SDP Liaisons review small business capability statements that are 

provided and orient these firms on how to do business with the Smithsonian. The SDP 

Liaisons coordinate meetings between Smithsonian technical and professional staff and 

firms seeking to do business with the Smithsonian, to help the Institution contract with as 

many categories of small businesses as possible. They also periodically review and report 

on the extent of small business utilization by unit procurement delegates. 

Monthly In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

“Going Beyond the 

Curatorial Ranks: 

How do museums 

diversify our staff 

to expand and 

change the 

dominant 

narrative?”

Participated as a panelist for the online discussion “Going Beyond the Curatorial Ranks: 

How do museums diversify our staff to expand and change the dominant narrative?” Panel 

included: 

-Sabrina Lynn Motley, Director, Smithsonian Folklife Festival

-Sherrell Lewis, Program Manager DEAI, Science Education Center

-Oris Sanjur, Acting Director, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

-Zully Dorr, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Advancement, Office of Advancement

-Shahin Nemazee, Special Emphasis Program Manager, Office of Equal Employment and 

Supplier Diversity. 

The discussion was a part of the Because of Her Story Virtual Internship Program and over 

thirty interns from across the country and world took part! OEESD was honored to be 

asked to participate and engage with these future stars! 

7/23/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Career Counseling

Education

Internships

Virtual Internships

Program

Workforce

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

Secretary OEESD

Quarterly SDP 

Meetings with 

Directors

OEESD-SDP and OEESD Director met quarterly with Directors of OCon&PPM, OCIO, SE, and 

SF to discuss ways to further support the Smithsonian's supplier diversity goals. Quarterly In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

New Employee 

Orientation for SE

Continued to provide orientation sessions to ensure all new SE employees receive POWH 

training. 

FY 2021 Ongoing

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Education

Training

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 15 
Direct

Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Secretary OEESD

Virtual EEO 

Training

Continued virtual mandatory POWH and EEO supervisory training for new employees and 

supervisors. 

FY 2021 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Training

Program

Supplier

Workforce

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

BELT Training for 

OPS Officers

Provided POWH training to incoming OPS officers at Pennsy MD facility to ensure they are 

aware of their rights and responsibilities as it relates to EEO. FY 2021 Ongoing

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Education

Training

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

Employee Affinity 

Groups

Participated on the Affinity Group Council comprised of the Chairs of SI's Employee Affinity 

Groups to discuss outreach initiatives and diversity / inclusion related topics. The goal is to 

maximize collaboration. The Office also participated in the inaugural meetings of the SI 

Disability Employee Resource Group. 

FY 2021 Ongoing

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Education

Employee Affinity Groups

Internships

Recruitment

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

Dispute Resolution 

Webinars

Provided informational webinars on dispute resolution in collaboration with the SI 

Ombuds and SI Civil Program. These sessions included information on the EEO 

Discrimination Compliant Process, benefits of using ADR, Ombuds Program, new SI Civil 

Program, and the HR liaison’s roll in assisting management with addressing disputes and 

managing conflict.

FY 2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Education

Training

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

Informational 

Webinar on EO for 

Individuals with 

Disabilities 

Provided informational webinar on Equal Opportunity for Individuals with Disabilities was 

presented by OEESD, OHR and Access Smithsonian to HR Liaisons. The panelists provided 

information on programs, policies, and procedures to engage and improve the 

recruitment, hiring and retention of individuals with disabilities.

FY 2021 Ongoing

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Education

Training

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 16 
Direct

Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Secretary OEESD

National Science 

Foundation (NSF) 

Committee on 

Equal 

Opportunities in 

Science and 

Engineering

OEESD continues to represent the Smithsonian at NSF's Committee on Equal Opportunities 

in Science and Engineering (CEOSE) and presents information regarding SI’s STEM related 

educational programs and initiatives to the committee. Participation is met with high 

praise and the Institution was commended by NSF for its efforts to further STEM education 

to underrepresented groups.

FY 2021 Ongoing

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Public Programming

Recruitment

Program

Workforce

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Secretary OEESD

SDP Virtual "Meet 

the Vendors" 

Showcase

Hosted the annual SDP Virtual “Meet the Vendors” Showcase with presentations from 

eleven SDVOSB, HUBZone and 8(a) small businesses on their firms’ capabilities to over 180 

Smithsonian procurement, purchase card, and Contracting Officer Technical 

Representatives (COTRs).

7/21/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

30th Annual 

Government 

Virtual 

Procurement 

Conference 

Assisted in the planning and participated in the 30th Annual Government Procurement 

Conference and provided advice and assistance on how to do business with the 

Smithsonian. All firms were encouraged to register in the Smithsonian's Small Business 

Database. 

FY 2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

Minority Enterprise 

Development Week

Participated in Minority Enterprise Development Week and provided advice and assistance 

on how to do business with the Smithsonian. All firms were encouraged to register in the 

Smithsonian's Small Business Database. 

9/19/2021 - 

9/25/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 17 
Direct

Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Secretary OEESD

Women’s Chamber 

of Commerce 

(USWCC) virtual 

Small Business 

Conferences 

Participated in two Women's Chamber of Commerce conference and provided advice and 

assistance to women-owned businesses on how to do business with the Smithsonian. All 

firms were encouraged to register in the Smithsonian's Small Business Database. 

FY 2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

Small Business 

Administration 

Week

Participated in Small Business Administration Week and provided advice and assistance on 

how to do business with the Smithsonian. All firms were encouraged to register in the 

Smithsonian's Small Business Database. 

FY 2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Secretary OEESD

SDP YouTube 

Channel

Created a SDP YouTube Channel for small business vendors to learn how to do business 

with the Smithsonian and features videos from the following units: OCon, OEESD, OCIO, 

NMNH, SE, and SF. 

FY 2021 Ongoing

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Administration OHR

Palmer Leadership 

Development 

Program (PLDP)

Named for donor Russell E. Palmer, this program is for employees who are competitively 

selected at Grades GS/IS 13 and 14. The purpose of this unique program is to strengthen 

the participants' leadership skills, foster an innovative culture, increase their professional 

network, and expand the use of organizational best practices. The goal is to enhance 

participants' understanding of the complexities and breadth of the Smithsonian's mission 

while preparing them to address new challenges.

08/2021 - 

07/2022 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No Training Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Administration OHR

Disability 

Employment

Participated in collaboration with OEESD, in the webinar for Equal Opportunity for 

Individuals with Disabilities at the Smithsonian. Topics included the laws and the role of 

OEESD, the Smithsonian’s reasonable accommodations procedures, Schedule A and 

Veteran Hiring Authorities , and Access Smithsonian's responsibilities.

4/8/2021 Completed Individuals with Disabilities No Recruitment

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 18 
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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Administration OHR

SI Civil Program - 

Sparking Change 

Workshop

Presented the SI Civil Program at the Sparking Change Workshop to advance gender equity 

in the sciences at the Smithsonian, and at various DEAI groups this year. 9/28/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No Training

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Administration OHR

Performance 

Management

Developed and published in partnership with OEESD a Supervisory Performance Element 

template for use in FY21 that includes EEO expectations 

10/1/2020 - 

11/20/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Recruitment

Supplier Diversity Outreach

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Supervisory

Program

Supplier

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Administration OHR Civil Program

Led a team to develop a STRI climate survey that will be used as a model for other units, 

with the following objectives: Measure the general perception and incidents of 

harassment (sexual or otherwise), discrimination, and unfair treatment within the STRI 

community; assess what the STRI community knows about reporting mechanisms for 

harassment or other concerning behaviors; learn how STRI is perceived in terms of 

diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion; gather ideas and suggestions about ways to 

make STRI a more welcoming and inclusive workplace; and gather baseline data for 

subsequent periodic surveys to monitor changes in community perception.

10/1/2020 - 

4/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Recruitment

Training

EEO/POWH

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Administration OHR

New Supervisory 

Training

Provided New Supervisory Training to managers on a quarterly basis that included a focus 

on diversity, inclusion and equity.

10/1/2020 - 

9/30/2021

(Ongoing)

Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Recruitment

Training

Supervisory

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE Diversity Recruiting

Collaborating with National Association of Black Journalists/Hispanic Journalists, women's 

groups in specific industries, and Asian American Journalists for recruiting. Also uses 

diversity websites to post positions on Career Builder and National Retail Association. 

FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No Recruitment Workforce Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Administration SE Supplier Diversity Working closely with OEEMA and OCON to expand SE's use of diverse suppliers. FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No Supplier Diversity Outreach Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE Internships Hosted virtual interns in the Media Group FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Women

Yes Internships Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Magazine 

Smithsonian Magazine covers a diverse range of topics and highlights the history and 

achievements of African Americans, women, Latinx, Native Americans, Pacific Islanders 

and individuals with disabilities. The magazine relies on a diverse group of freelance 

writers, photographers, artists and researchers. 

FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

Yes Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Magazine 

Smithsonian Magazine's November issue highlighted diversity among the longtime White 

House staff in the photo essay "Welcome to the White House," with text by former First 

Lady Laura Bush. "The Redemption of Rosa Bonheur" spotlighted an often-overlooked 

female artist. "The Deadly Shortage of Venom Antidote" featured the work of Hispanic 

scientists in Costa Rica. The Secretary's column showcased the new National Native 

American Veterans Memorial.

11/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Women

Yes Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Magazine 

Smithsonian Magazine's December issue included "Beyond Aloha," a feature story on the 

revival of native Hawaiian language. The cover story on canine cognition, "Evolution of a 

Friendship," included numerous female researchers. "The Case of the Autographed 

Corpse" highlighted Native American culture in an historical look at a 1950s murder case. 

The American Icon story "Every Wear" looked at the role of denim in the civil rights 

movement. "From Bambi to Bethlehem" profiled Asian artist Tyrus Wong. National 

Treasure spotlighted Jimi Hendrix's vest. 

12/20/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Native Americans

Women

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Magazine 50th 

Anniversary

Smithsonian Magazine created a digital sizzle reel that showcased the diversity of our 

coverage over the past 50 years. This was shown at internal and external virtual events. 10/20/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

Yes Digital Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Retail Support of 

Institution wide 

initiative focused 

on Women's 

History

Offered products in of support "Women's History Initiative-Understanding Women's 

History is Integral to Understanding the American Experience." Although often 

underrepresented in recorded histories, women helped build the United States of America 

of today and women will help shape the United States of America of the future.

FY 2021 In-Progress Women Yes Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 20 
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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Administration SE

Retail Support of 

Girlhood exhibition 

at NMAH

Offered retail products in support of the exhibit "Examining the History of Girlhood." They 

changed history, from Helen Keller to Naomi Wadler. Girls have spoken up, challenged 

expectations, and been on the from lines of social change. 

FY 2021 In-Progress Native Americans Yes Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Product developed 

to support NMAI 

Veteran's MemorialWarriors Circle of 

Honor 

Blanket was created for National Native American Veterans War Memorial event as a 

tribute to Native heroes and their enduring and distinguished service in every branch of 

the US military.

FY 2021 In-Progress Native Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Frederick Douglas 

and Harriet 

Tubman Products 

Developed to 

support NMAAHC 

Slavery and Civil 

Rights Galleries

Offered retail products in support of cultural and historical figures such as Frederick 

Douglas and Harriet Tubman. FY 2021 In-Progress African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel Women's 

History Initiative

The Smithsonian Channel's Mission Critical program, "She the People: Votes for Women" 

(NMAH/NPG) aired as part of a month-long event “America Votes” dedicated to the 

promise to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. 

FY 2021 In-Progress Women No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel

"She the People: Votes for Women" (NMAH/NPG) was nominated for Biggest Impact of 

the Year Award at the World Congress Awards. FY 2021 In-Progress Women No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel

The Channel’s online series, #BecauseOfHerStory, first launched in 2018, has expanded to 

a year-round effort to celebrate and elevate the achievements of women throughout 

modern history. In November, legend Billie Jean King viewed and boosted the video 

celebrating her birthday and achievements. (Compared to Smithsonian Twitter channel 

averages, this tweet earned +62% more engagements, and +139% more views.)

FY 2021 In-Progress Women No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel Produced "America’s Hidden Stories: Southern Union Women Spies." FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Women

Yes Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel

The Channel continues to create and publish derivative content from the series, 

Conversations in Context, a digital five-part interview series with Secretary of the 

Smithsonian Institution Lonnie G. Bunch III and MTV News host Dometi Pongo, exploring 

critical events in Black history. A collaborative effort between the Channel and SI social 

media units resulted in new posts and another boost in social engagement supporting the 

opening of the SITES exhibit, The Negro Motorist Green Book, with @NCRMuseum.

FY 2021 In-Progress African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel Walk Against Fear: James Meredith aired 10/1/20. FY 2021 In-Progress African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 21 
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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel

Black in Space: Breaking The Color Barrier (Mission Critical-NMAAHC), took Honorable 

Mention, Best Documentary at the Cynopsis Digital Awards, adding to its Omni Award as 

Winner, Documentary; its Telly Award as GOLD Winner, Television General History; and its 

Impact Award, Award of Excellence, earlier in 2020.

FY 2021 In-Progress African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel

Last Call for the Bayou won Best Limited Short-Form Series at the Jackson Hole Wildlife 

Film Festival. Members of the Houma Nation, Black oystermen and shrimpers, and a 

female duck hunter are among the diverse group of Bayou residents fighting to hold onto 

the land and a way of life they love through unprecedented change.

FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel

This Object in History, a digital short-form series, resumed production in December. 

Fernandomania explores the popularity of Fernando Valenzuela and his impact on 

Mexican-American identity in the 1980s; California Raisins examines the popularity of the 

California Raisins, their style and music, which drew upon Motown and African American 

culture; and Prince explores the boundary-breaking achievements of Prince during a 

pivotal moment in pop culture when Black musicians were under-represented on music 

television channels.

FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE

Smithsonian 

Channel

Smithsonian Time Capsule: Beyond Stonewall (Mission Critical-NMAH), earned Honorable 

Mention, Best LGBTQIA Programming at the Cynopsis Digital Awards, following on its 

earlier 2020 Impact Doc Award as Winner, Award of Excellence.

FY 2021 In-Progress LGBTQIA+ No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE Publishing

Nuestra America 30 Inspiring Latinos/Latinas Who Have Shaped the US (English). Book 

highlights the inspiring stories of 30 Latino and Latina Americans throughout history and 

their incredible contributions to the cultural, social and political character of the United 

States. It features a glossary of terms and reading guide created by the Smithsonian Latino 

Center along with beautiful portraits by artist Gloria Felix.

FY 2021 In-Progress Hispanics No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE Publishing

A Star Like Jesse Owens- Smithsonian Historical Fiction about Jesse Owens at the Olympics. 

A new historical fiction series in partnership with the Smithsonian. Written by 

#OwnVoices author Nikki Shannon Smith, giving authentic voices to diverse characters. 

FY 2021 In-Progress African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Administration SE Publishing Lion Angel Island -Historical fiction about immigration at Angel Island. FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education OUSE

Claudine K. Brown 

Internship in 

Education

The Claudine K. Brown Internship in Education intends to increase participation of 

underserved students who are under-represented in the education and museum 

leadership field. This program was established in honor of the late Claudine K. Brown, 

former Assistant Secretary for Education and Access, to promote excellence in education 

and help ensure a diverse education and museum workforce of the future. Brown was a 

lifelong champion for learners of all ages. She believed in immersive experiences – that 

we learn by doing. Awardees learn about developing and disseminating innovative 

educational programs and resources at the Smithsonian, online, in the classroom and in 

communities. Upon completion of the internship, Claudine K. Brown interns are better 

able to understand best practices of education in their area of interest; Collaborate with a 

variety of audiences from Smithsonian education staff, volunteers and visitors to the 

Museums, education and research centers. Interns build self-confidence in a professional 

setting.

6/1/2021 - 

8/15/2021 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Internships

Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Education OUSE

Yesterday, Today, a 

Smithsonian athome activity guide

"Yesterday, Today" presents three visual time capsules that connect ideas and events from 

the past with products and trends of the present. Designed for audiences who are 

nostalgic about the 50s, 60s, and 70s and who continue to remain curious about the 

consequences of the events and innovations of those decades, this publication presents 

stories, puzzles, activities and hours of immersive engagement. The time capsules highlight 

both iconic and lesser-known objects, unexpected milestones and connections, and 

profiles of individuals found within the Smithsonian’s collections. This activity guide 

features connections from the Space Race to the smartphone, from oil shock to the 

electric car, and from pop art to social media. More info and a digital copy of the guide: 

https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/2EILb8NPiwO3ZJ9G#r/56410.

7/1/2021 - 

7/30/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities No

Collections

Education

Public Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education OUSE

Inspiration Nation, 

a Smithsonian athome activity guide

The summer issue, "Inspiration Nation" shares stories and activities from the Smithsonian 

to light a creative spark and help K-8 learners reimagine a future filled with hope. 

“Inspiration Nation" helps learners step away from their screens and realize that 

everything around us has the capacity to inspire. Throughout history people have found 

inspiration in nature, objects and in each other. This publication helps students refocus on 

learning to make a change in the future. The guide features bilingual Spanish/English 

language content. More info and a digital copy of the guide: https://learninglab.si.edu/q/llc/5j7wfPd6tFu9ORQJ#r/56413.

6/1/2021 - 

6/30/2021 Completed HispanicsResidents of Under-resourced Communities Yes

Education

Public Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education OUSE

Winter at Home, a 

Smithsonian athome activity guide

“Winter at Home” is a 40-page activity guide that uses the vast collections and expertise of 

the Smithsonian to spark learners’ creativity and imaginations as they explore their homes 

and neighborhoods this winter. The guide is filled with hands-on activities, puzzles and 

games that students can engage with to explore topics in STEM, history, culture and the 

arts. The guide features bilingual Spanish/English language content. “Winter at Home” 

invites learners to look at their homes and neighborhoods in new ways. Learners are 

encouraged to have fun at home, with activities such as inviting a bird to breakfast at your 

windowsill, decoding a message in your bathroom mirror and recreating artworks using 

clothing from your closet as a palette. More info and a digital copy of the guide: 

https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/UEuYIl7rwtp1xg02#r/56411.

1/1/2021 - 

3/31/2021 Completed HispanicsResidents of Under-resourced Communities Yes

Collections

Education

Public Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education OUSE

Warm Wishes from 

the Smithsonian, 

activity guide

This 12 page booklet for K-6 graders accompanied coat deliveries to approximately 20 

schools. The booklet features Smithsonian collections, specifically objects and clothing 

worn by inspirational role models and space for children to consider people in their lives 

that share attributes with these role models. Students will be able to draw and write the 

name of each of these special people and celebrate these qualities and possible futures for 

those close to them. More info and a digital copy of the guide: 

https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/Oi9qro8SRV61QuF5#r/56412.

11/1/2020 - 

11/30/2020 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities Yes

Education

Public Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Education OUSE

Smithsonian 

Educators’ Day

As part of the 175th anniversary celebrations, the Smithsonian Institution will host its 

inaugural annual Educator’s Day! PreK–12 educators from across the nation are invited to 

participate in this free, all-day virtual event. Programs will bring together teachers and 

museum educators to explore opportunities to collaborate, learn from each other and 

discuss the future of education. Participants will go behind-the-scenes to talk directly with 

experts, get a sneak peek into upcoming exhibitions, and learn about current research 

initiatives at the Smithsonian.

[URL https://s.si.edu/EducatorsDay2021]

9/17/2021 In-progress Residents of Under-resourced Communities No

Education

Teacher Workshops

Program Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education OUSE

Present History, a 

Smithsonian athome activity guide

Created the Present History, a Smithsonian At-Home Guide that will be available in print and online for 

printing at home. The guide will be distributed to almost 2M USA TODAY subscriber homes nationwide 

[URL: https://learninglab.si.edu/news/celebrating-175-years-of-history]. It includes a lot of fun games 

that people from different generations can complete together. It highlights People, Places, Objects, and 

Events from the Smithsonian's 175 year history, including:

- Historic collections, including James Smithson’s original gift, correspondence between founding 

Secretary Joseph Henry and Thomas Edison, and connections between Alexander Graham Bell and the 

Smithsonian as a Regent and long-time supporter;

- Cutting-edge research, including the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s ongoing mission to 

save species for tomorrow and collaboration to capture the first-ever image of a black hole;

- In-depth scholarship, including a Sidedoor episode about the Tulsa Race Massacre, as well as the new 

Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap; and,

- Innovative programming, including Anacostia Community Museum’s community storytelling initiative 

and this fall’s upcoming exhibition at the Arts and Industries Building, called “FUTURES.” 

8/15/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Multigenerational Families No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Education SCLDA

Supporting the 

Innovative 

Teaching of High 

School Level Ethnic 

Studies Courses in 

Texas, Year 2

The project brings together three Texas museums and their local university partners and 

social studies education networks, to create Learning Lab collections highlighting Latino 

history, art and culture. Partners: Smithsonian Affiliations, the Institute of Texan Cultures 

(SI Affiliate), the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (SI Affiliate, which 

includes the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, the Asian American 

Resource Center, and the George Washington Carver Museum), the Museum of South 

Texas History, University of Texas San Antonio, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 

Texas State University, Texas Christian University, and Academia Cuauhtli (Austin-area 

school focusing on language and culture revitalization). Learning Lab collections here: 

https://learninglab.si.edu/search/?f%5B_types%5D%5B%5D=ll_collection&st=%23EthnicSt

udies&s=&page=1 OR search the Learning Lab (https://learninglab.si.edu for 

#ethnicstudies.

1/1/2021 - 

6/30/2021 In-progress Hispanics No

Education

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Education SCLDA

Arts Integration 

and Cultural 

Competency 

Professional 

Support for New 

Jersey Educators

The project brings together four Professors-in Residence at William Paterson University 

(WPU) in New Jersey, and two library media specialists from both WPU and Rutgers to 

create and test in classrooms digital learning resources in the Smithsonian Learning Lab 

that highlight Asian Pacific American history, art and culture. Partners: William Patterson 

University, Rutgers University

1/1/2021 - 

8/31/2021 In-progress Asian Americans No

Education

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Education SCLDA

Digital Access to 

Community 

Knowledge and 

Smithsonian 

Collections for 

Alaska Native 

Education

Developed a dedicated space on Learning Lab (https://learninglab.si.edu/org/sasc-ak) 

where teachers and Alaskan curriculum developers can find a large set of diverse Alaska 

Native digital resources for creating instructional materials and for student exploration. 

Includes community scholar dialogs, Smithsonian curatorial information about NMNH and 

NMAI objects, video discussions and demonstrations by Alaska Native artists, language 

learning materials, and ready-to-use curricula that may be adopted or which can serve as 

models. Conducted an outreach effort to Alaska’s 54 school districts, to alert teachers and 

home schools to the Learning Lab resources and how to use them to build their own 

classroom lessons. 

11/01/2020 - 

1/30/2021 Completed Native AmericansAlaska Natives Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SCLDA

NCSS 2020 

Conference 

Presentations on 

Ethnic Studies

Two conference presentations aligned to LIP-funded grants to do teacher professional 

development in Texas for Ethnic, Mexican American, and other Area Studies classrooms. 12/15/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

Education SCLDA

2020 Smithsonian 

Affiliations National 

Conference: 

Maximizing Impact: 

Partnerships to 

Achieve Greater 

Reach and 

Relevance in the 

Classroom

Relevance in the Classroom, with Affiliate museum collaborators from the City of Austin 

Parks and Recreation and the Irving Arts Museum at the 2020 Smithsonian Affiliations 

National Conference. Attendees met with Smithsonian and Affiliate museum educators 

who have collaborated in a Texas-wide education program designed to train educators to 

use museum resources in Ethnic and Area Studies classrooms.

11/23/2020 Completed Hispanics Yes

Conferences w/Colleges or 

Universities

Education

Virtual Programming

Program College/University

Education SCLDA

Finding Light 

among the 

Shadows: 

Expressions of 

Resilience

Finding Light among the Shadows: Expressions of Resilience (Encontrando luz entre las 

sombras: expresiones de resiliencia): An online workshop designed for English Language 

Learners in the time of COVID-19. Activities aim to foster in participants important skills 

such as visual literacy, art appreciation, and collaborative learning, and also to strengthen 

family connections, and develop resilience.

11/20/2020 Completed Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Education SCLDA

Ethnic Studies 

training with Rio 

Grande Valley 

cohort

This is a two-session training with Rio Grande Valley educators to train in using museum 

content in the classroom with the Learning Lab. Partners are University of Texas Rio 

Grande Valley and Museum of South Texas History. More info: 

https://learninglab.si.edu/q/ll-c/Nf5yacZt3YKXsmeE.

11/20/2020 Completed Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities No

Education

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SCLDA

Learning Lab 

training for FCPS 

Family Literacy 

teachers

Learning Lab training for English Language learners as part of the FCPS Family Literacy 

program.

10/30/2020 Completed

Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

English Language Learners

No

Education

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Training

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Education SCLDA

Introduction to the 

Smithsonian 

Learning Lab: 

Howard University 

Students

Session introducing the Smithsonian Learning Lab to undergraduate students studying 

education at Howard University. Involved modeling Project Zero thinking routines to 

examine resources, and discussion of ways to use museum resources to teach about 

heritage.

10/30/2020 Completed African Americans No

Education

Training

Virtual Programming

Program College/University

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SCLDA

DC-PZ 

Collaborative: 

Bringing Museums 

into the Classroom

Presentation to DC-PZ Collaborative members where they learned how to leverage the 

Smithsonian Learning Lab to bring museum resources to their students, especially during a 

time of distance learning. Museums Go Global teacher participant presented Smithsonian 

Learning Lab collections created during the project.

10/2/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SCLDA

Montgomery Colleg

e (MC) 

–Smithsonian 

Faculty Fellowship 

Program

This program, now in its 24th year, includes a seminar series on a chosen theme for MC 

professors, with an opening panel, five seminar sessions, a Learning Lab training, and a 

closing reception. Each participating professor (10-12 per year) designs a project for his or 

her classroom that brings students to the museums and engages them with our 

content. We estimate that the faculty fellows have brought 20,000+ students, and often 

their families, to Smithsonian museums. The theme for the 2020 series was The Age of 

Humans and the Footprints We Leave Behind: Climate Change and Other Critical 

Challenges for Today and Tomorrow. Related digital content can be found 

here: https://learninglab.si.edu/search/?f%5B_types%5D%5B%5D=ll_collection&st=MCTea

ch,%20climate&s=&page=1 

FY 2021 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Memorandums of 

Understanding Formal

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Education SITES/SA

Robert Blackburn & 

Modern American 

Printmaking

This exhibition examines Blackburn’s life and work, which touched the Harlem Renaissance 

and the WPA; the Art Students League and the New York School; Paris in the 1950s; the 

venerable print workshop Universal Limited Art Editions (ULAE) and the graphic explosion 

of the 1960s. Blackburn forecasted and participated in the proliferation of collaborative, 

non-profit workspaces in the early 1970s, the rise of multiculturalism, and, ultimately, 

globalism.

9/2020 - 8/7/2022 In-Progress

African Americans

Women

No Traveling Exhibitions Program

College/University

Masters

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Black Wings: 

American Dreams 

of Flight

Based on the SITES' popular Black Wings: American Dreams of Flight traveling exhibition, 

an updated build-it-yourself version is now available for licensing. Created in collaboration 

with the National Air and Space Museum, Black Wings chronicles the story of African 

Americans who, despite facing tremendous racial barriers, attained amazing achievements 

in aviation history. From the brave pioneers of the 1910s to today's astronauts, Black 

Wings celebrates the fact that flying is not limited by race. 

7/2021 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Picturing Women 

Inventors Poster 

Exhibition

Picturing Women Inventors is a series of eight posters that explores the inventions of 19 

highly accomplished American women. Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Poster Exhibition Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

American Women's 

History Lecture 

Series

Smithsonian Affiliations in collaboration with the Smithsonian American Women's History 

Initiative (AWHI), amplified the compelling stories of women through the year. Connecting 

Affiliates with Smithsonian resources that help share the accomplishments of American 

women both locally and nationally. 

5/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA Emerson Collective 

Internship

With the support of the Emerson Collective, the Smithsonian Institution launched a new 

internship program that matched 75 undergraduates from across the country with 25 

Smithsonian Affiliates. The students worked in small teams at each Affiliate to create 

original Smithsonian Learning Lab collections that tell a cohesive narrative about one or 

more of five core areas of focus using Affiliate content as well as available digital 

Smithsonian content. Core areas of focus: Race and Social Justice, Community Health and 

Covid-19 Vaccine Education, Conservation and Climate Change, Changing American 

Narrative: Immigration, Civics, Media, Women's History

4/2021 - 8/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Internships

Program College/University

Education SITES/SA

Exploring the 

Legacy of the 

Green Book in Your 

Community

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) and Smithsonian 

Affiliations invited a small number of organizations to participate in a pilot initiative to 

share Smithsonian resources and foster conversations around exploring the legacy of the 

Green Book in communities across America. 

2/2021 - 6/2021 Completed

African Americans

LGBTQIA+

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Traveling Exhibitions

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Because of Her 

Story Summer 2021 

Virtual Internship 

Mentor

Smithsonian Affiliations mentored an intern as part of the Smithsonian American Women's 

History Initiative's Because of Her Story Internship program. 6/2021 - 8/2021 Completed Women Yes

Education

Internships

Virtual Internships

Program College/University

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Education SITES/SA Affiliations National 

Conference 2020

Smithsonian Affiliations National Virtual Conference Series provides online professional 

development and networking opportunities for Affiliate and Smithsonian staff in 

September, October and November 2020. The conference series was developed in 

response to the moment we are in now and as a platform to discuss and examine a series 

of timely and important questions: How do we respond to the challenges of a global 

pandemic, racial injustice, and political divisiveness in ways that enable our visitors to take 

productive action - and help our nation to live up to its founding ideals? How can Affiliates 

and the Smithsonian collaborate in doing this work to ensure greater reach, greater 

relevance, and profound impact? What does it mean to be a national museum in this 

moment? 

9/2020 - 11/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Virtual Programming

Professional Development 

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

National Youth 

SummitConfronting Bias 

through Gender 

Equity

Smithsonian Affiliations and NMAH are partnering together to engage teens from Affiliates 

in NMAH's National Youth Summit. The series of digital events is for middle and high 

school students to critically examine the meanings of gender and its construction, and how 

to disrupt gender bias. Drawing on the stories and content featured in NMAH's exhibition 

Girlhood (It's complicated), participants will explore four learning modules that feature 

paired stories of individuals confronting bias and fighting for gender equity. 

1/2021 - 10/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education SITES/SA

National Youth 

Summit - Teen 

Resistance to Racial 

Injustice

Smithsonian Affiliations is partnering with NMAH to engage teens from Affiliates to 

participate in the National Youth Summit. The 2020 summit was centered on the case 

study of Claudette Colvin—a 15-year-old Black student in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955. 

Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus and testified in the legal case that 

brought an end to segregated busing in Montgomery.

10/2020 Completed African Americans

Women

No Virtual Programming Program High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education SITES/SA

Smithsonian 

Affiliations Office 

Hours Series

A series of meetings designed to convene fellow Affiliates to talk to each other and 

Smithsonian staff, to hear from colleagues across the country, and share resources. 10/2020 - 9/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Virtual Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

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Pandemic 

Perspectives: 

Stories through 

Collections

NMAH organized virtual talks for Affiliates to offer their members, that combined 

questions raised by the current pandemic and historic objects in the national collections. 

Curators and historians virtually shared objects and used them as a springboard for lively 

discussions that explored how the past can help us better understand the present. 

9/2020 - 2/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Virtual Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Smithsonian 

Affiliations Virtual 

Scholar Talks

Smithsonian Affiliations, in collaboration with the Smithsonian institution museums and 

Smithsonian Affiliate organizations present virtual scholar programs addressing current 

issues, historical events, and all topics in between to create lively discussions, thought 

provoking ideas for audience of all ages. 

10/2020 - 9/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Virtual Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Smithsonian 

American Women's 

History Initiative 

Wikipedia 

Collaboration 

This professional development course was offered exclusively for Smithsonian Affiliates. 

Affiliate staff learned how to edit and create new Wikipedia articles about notable women 

from their collections who need representation on Wikipedia. 

4/2021 - 7/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Virtual Programming

Professional Development

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA Smithsonian 

Affiliations Voices

Smithsonian Voices is a blog on Smithsonianmag.com, the online version of Smithsonian 

magazine. Millions of visitors browse the content online per month and learn about 

science, history, art, popular culture, and innovation. The blog shares the unique voices 

that make up the Smithsonian and now includes Affiliate partners.

Smithsonian Affiliates are the only organizations outside of the Smithsonian featured on 

these Voices pages. Smithsonian Affiliations Voices provides the Affiliate network with an 

additional platform to share their unique stories with a national audience.

10/2020 - 9/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Digital News Platform Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Museum on Main 

Street capacity 

building training 

workshops

The Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program is SITES' key initiative that directly engages 

small town audiences and brings revitalized attention to underserved rural communities 

through their own Main Street museums, historical societies, and other cultural venues. 

Professional development workshops for host venues were held in 15 states in FY20, 

providing program and installation tools and training for hosting a traveling exhibition and 

developing community-based displays and programs.

Ongoing In-Progress Residents of Under-resourced Communities No

Education

Public Programming

Traveling Exhibitions

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

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I Want the Wide 

American Earth: An 

Asian Pacific 

American Story 

An award-winning educational poster set provides teachers with fresh resources for 

celebrating Asian Pacific American history across this multitude of incredibly diverse 

cultures, and ways to explore how Asian Pacific Americans have shaped and been shaped 

by the course of our nation’s history. Produced by SITES, distributed at no cost to schools, 

museums, and small libraries. 

Ongoing In-Progress

Asian Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No

Education

Exhibitions

Poster Exhibit

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA The Way We 

Worked

A fresh approach to how and why Americans work -- whether in offices, factories, farms, 

schools, homes, on the road, rails, or sky, in the military -- through photographs and firsthand stories. Formerly a Museum on Main Street project, this exhibit is now traveling 

through the SITES program. 

FY19 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Traveling Exhibitions

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA Water/Ways

A humanities-based examination of water and what it means to communities across the 

nation. A Museum on Main Street project that provides resources and tools for rural and 

under- resourced communities to collect and share stories and to create their unique 

complementary exhibits.

5/2016 - 6/2022 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA Recruiting

SITES works with OHR’s Diversity & Inclusion Outreach Specialist to announce vacancies far 

beyond USAJOBS to ensure we reach diverse communities. SITES also notifies professional 

organizations related to museums and specific professional specializations as they apply to 

open positions. We also announce job openings through many common social media 

outlets and listservs.

Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Digital Promotion of Job 

Opportunities

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

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Hometown Teams: 

How Sports Shape 

America

Sports are an indelible part of our culture and community. Hometown Teams: How Sports 

Shape America shows how sports reflect the trials and triumphs of the American 

experience and help mold our national character. Host communities utilize SITES' tools, 

resources, and professional training to develop complementary exhibits that highlight 

their own local histories and stories.

2014-2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Bittersweet 

Harvest: The 

Bracero Program 

1942-1964

Award-winning bi-lingual posters from SITES convey the little known story of the Bracero 

Program, the largest guest worker program in U.S. history. Between 1942 and 1964, 

millions of Mexican men came to the U.S. on short-term labor contracts. Distributed at no 

cost to schools, migrant education centers, museums, and small libraries.

Fall 2010 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities No Poster Exhibit Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA Choosing to 

Participate

Graphically compelling, award-winning poster exhibit, created primarily for middle and 

high schools, is designed to encourage dialogue, engagement, respect, and participation in 

our communities. Many schools use it for anti-bullying programs. Distributed at no cost to 

schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, libraries, community centers.

Fall 2010 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Poster Exhibit Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Education SITES/SA Stories from Main 

Street

A digital initiative to collect and share stories from small-town and rural America. 

Developed by the Museum on Main Street program to encourage capacity-building at the 

local level and to provide resources for community outreach.

Fall 2010- 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Virtual Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Roots of Wisdom: 

Native Knowledge, 

Shared Science

An exhibition developed with the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry designed to 

engage families and students in the concept that western science and Native American 

traditional knowledge about the environment are both valuable and complementary for 

understanding the natural world.

2/2017 - 8/2021 In-Progress

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders Yes Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

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Beyond Bollywood: 

Indian Americans 

Shape the Nation

Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center, a new 

exhibition explores the Indian American experience and the community's vital political, 

professional, and cultural contributions to American life and history.

5/2015 - 

11/2020 In-Progress Asian Americans No Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA Journey Stories

Americans on the move, whether for work or pleasure, illustrate a key chapter in the 

nation's story. Journey Stories encourages host communities to collect and share stories, 

including those from immigrants new and old.

7/2017 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Poster Exhibit Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

A Place for All 

People: Introducing 

the National 

Museum of African 

American History 

and Culture

Produced in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and 

Culture, this new exhibition of 20 posters explores African American history, culture, and 

community and will include programming and educational resources for host venues. 

Available as digital files to print yourself.

8/2016 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Women

No Poster Exhibit Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Dolores Huerta: 

Revolution in the 

Fields / Revolución 

en los Campos

Dolores Huerta: Revolution in the Fields / Revolución en los Campos shares the compelling 

story of legendary activist and leader Dolores Huerta (b.1930) and the farm workers 

movement of the 1960s and 70s. It is a quintessentially American tale of struggle and 

sacrifice, of courage and victory.

2/2016 - 

12/2023 In-Progress

Hispanics

Women

No Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Education SITES/SA

Men of Change: 

Power. Triumph. 

Truth.

The exhibit "Men of Change: Power. Triumph. Truth." serves as metaphor for the 

thousands of significant African-American men who are rendered invisible by a society 

that does not quite know how to see them. Men of Change highlights men—including 

Muhammad Ali, James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates, W.E.B Du Bois and Kendrick 

Lamar—whose journeys have altered the history and culture of the country through 

politics, sports, science, entertainment, business and religion. The achievements of these 

men are situated within the legacy and traditions of the African American journey -- 

achievements of excellence in spite of society’s barriers. The men’s names are insinuated 

in a landscape of names and faces all echoing the story of becoming your best self. In 

heralding the contributions of notable men across decades, Men of Change highlights 

deep parallels between the past and present.

02/2019 - 

6/2022 In-Progress African Americans No Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Righting a Wrong: 

Japanese 

Americans and 

World War II

This important new traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian's National Museum of 

American History brings heart-wrenching personal stories, fascinating documents, 

stunning photographs, and engaging interactives to audiences across the nation. 

Embracing themes that are as relevant today as they were 75 years ago, the exhibition 

takes a deep look at immigration, prejudice, civil rights, heroism, and what it means to be 

an American.

10/2017 - 

10/2022 In-Progress Asian Americans Yes Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA Crossroads: Change 

in Rural America

Crossroads: Change in Rural America offers small towns a chance to look at their own 

paths to highlight the changes that affected their fortunes over the past century. The 

exhibition will prompt discussions about what happened when America’s rural population 

became a minority of the country’s population and the ripple effects that occurred.

1/2017 -

12/2022 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Education SITES/SA Exhibition Starter 

Kits

Drawing on content from past MoMS exhibitions, Starter Kits are organized to help small 

museums develop great local exhibitions. They embrace the power of local history and 

culture by providing a set of tools created by the Smithsonian that leverage local culture, 

creativity, and artistic expression. MoMS provides the curatorial framework for the 

exhibition. Host museums add additional content—such as historical images, art and 

artifacts, video clips, and quotes from oral histories—that highlights their local history and 

culture. Exhibition Starter Kits provide communities with Smithsonian-curated humanitiesbased exhibition frameworks and enable them to decide what is most important to 

present about their towns. The open build-it-yourself concept helps them preserve their 

past by presenting it in the most relevant way to their constituents. Smithsonian staff will 

provide assistance throughout the exhibition development process for each host venue.

4/2019 - 9/2024 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Exhibition Starter Kits Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education SITES/SA

Voices and Votes: 

Democracy in 

America

Based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, 

"Voices and Votes: Democracy in America" explores enduring questions that have faced 

our nation since the revolution: who has the right to vote, what are the freedoms and 

responsibilities of citizens, and who voices will be heard. The exhibition uses rich 

photographs, engaging interactives and videos, and objects to show that every community 

plays a role in this story and to create a platform for rich discussion and local 

programming.

2020 - 2026 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

City of Hope: 

Resurrection City 

and the 1968 Poor 

People's Campaign

In 1968, Drs. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy, and the Southern Christian 

Leadership Conference (SCLC) launched The Poor People's Campaign --a national, 

multiethnic, multicultural movement to demand equal access to economic opportunities 

and security for all people. The City of Hope exhibition explores the history and legacy of 

this important moment in U.S. history. 

2019 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Women

No Poster Exhibition Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA The Bias Inside Us

The exhibit "Bias Inside Us" helps visitors understand and counter their implicit biases and 

build capacity in communities through resources to convene dialogue that will increase 

empathy and create more inclusive schools and workplaces. 

2021 - 2025 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Traveling Exhibitions

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 35 
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Report

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SITES/SA

American 

Democracy: A 

Great Leap of Faith

Based on the permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American 

History, "American Democracy, A Great Leap of Faith" explores our government's founding 

and the evolution of America's bold experiment "of, by, and for the people." The 

exhibition features engaging multimedia experiences, immersive design, and artifacts from 

the Smithsonian collections and state historical organizations. American Democracy 

highlights the critical importance of active participation in our quest to form a "more 

perfect union."

2019 - 2023 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Traveling Exhibitions

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Billie Holiday at 

Sugar Hill: 

Photographs by 

Jerry Dantzic

The exhibit "Billie Holiday at Sugar Hill: Photographs by Jerry Dantzic," is a vivid, intimate, 

compelling photographic portrait of Billie Holiday, the consummate jazz and blues singer 

and one of 20th-century music's most iconic figures in April 1957 at a significant moment 

in her life and just two years before her death at the age of 44. 

2019 - 2023 In-Progress

African Americans

Women

No Traveling Exhibitions Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Solidarity Now! 

1968 Poor People's 

Campaign

The exhibit "Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People's Campaign" explores one of the most 

important grassroots movements of the civil rights era: the Poor People's Campaign of 

1968. Based on the original exhibition created by the National Museum of African 

American History and Culture, the exhibition investigates the factors that made this 

movement a success: the ideas, the emotions, the people, and the place-Resurrection City. 

2022 -2025 In-Progress

African Americans

Women

No Traveling Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Education SITES/SA The Negro Motorist 

Green Book

The exhibit features an immersive look at the harsh reality of travel for blacks in midcentury America and the vibrant parallel world of African American-friendly businesses 

that supported this travel. Visitors are transported back to a time when, if you were black, 

it took bravery and a Green Book to cross the country safely. 

2020 - 2024 In-Progress

African Americans

Women

No

Education

Traveling Exhibitions

Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Pleibol In the 

Barrios and the Big 

Leagues/ En los 

barrios y las 

grandes ligas

For nearly a century, baseball has been a crucial social and cultural force in Latino 

communities across the United States. And, for just as long, Latino/a players have had a 

huge impact on the game. Pleibol is a bilingual journey into the heart of American 

baseball. 

2021 - 2025 In-Progress

Hispanics

Women

No

Education

Traveling Exhibitions

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Righting a Wrong: 

Japanese 

Americans and 

World War II 

The poster exhibit "Righting A Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II" traces the 

story of Japanese and Japanese American incarceration during World War II and the 

people who survived it. This poster exhibition centers around eight questions that 

encourage viewers to engage in a dialogue about how this happened and could it happen 

again. Embracing themes that are relevant today as they were 75 years ago, the poster 

exhibition brings forth themes identity, immigration, prejudice, civil rights, courage, and 

what it means to be an American.

7/2019 - 

Ongoing 

In-Progress

Asian Americans

Women

No Poster Exhibition Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SITES/SA Girlhood (It's 

complicated)

Girlhood (It's complicated) engages audiences in timely conversations about women's 

history and women's issues through unexpected stories of girlhood in the United States. A 

signature exhibition of the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, Because Of 

Her Story, Girlhood is now open at the National Museum of American History and will 

begin its national tour in March 2023. 

3/2023 - 6/2025 Planned

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Traveling Exhibitions

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SITES/SA

Votes for Women: 

A Portrait of 

Persistence

The story of women's suffrage is a story of civil rights, of inclusion and exclusion from 

multiple perspectives, and of our development as a nation. Celebrating the 100th 

anniversary of the 19th Amendment, these dynamic and informative posters explore the 

complexity of the women's suffrage movement and the relevance of this history to 

Americans' lives today. 

2020 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Poster Exhibit Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Back to School: 

Engaging Students 

in Transdisciplinary 

Learning through 

Food! How do we 

ensure good 

nutrition for all? 

As schools across the globe see students and teachers returning to the classroom or undertaking 

distance learning, the Smithsonian Science Education Center is supporting educators to engage 

students in exciting, transdisciplinary learning that can be done in or out of the classroom. The 

Smithsonian Science for Global Goals module, "Food! How Do We Ensure Good Nutrition For All" 

encourages young people to investigated issues of food and nutritional security in their own 

communities, and in communities across the globe. This module brings together science and 

engineering education with social studies, health and civics to engage students in mapping food access 

points in their own communities, analyzing food and nutritional guidelines from around the world, 

exploring recipes and ingredients, and engineering better food storage containers, among other 

activities. Over the months of September and October, the Smithsonian Science Education Center 

hosted three webinars to provide educators with support to use the Food! How do we ensure good 

nutrition for all? module in their own classrooms or distance learning contexts.

10/6/2020 Completed Women Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

 Cultural Relevancy 

in STEM 

Classrooms 

Professional 

Development

Together with Southern University and A&M College the Smithsonian Science Education 

Center hosted a 2-day virtual professional development workshop for grades K-12 STEM 

teachers and their administrators funded by Shell Oil Company. The 2-day event attracted 

85 educators who attended 8 sessions focused on cultural relevancy, cultural 

responsiveness and cultural sustainability in PreK-12 classrooms. The objectives of the 

professional development were to build awareness about the importance of culturally 

proficient teaching for all, encourage STEM educators to modify their instruction based on 

knowledge they’ve learned and establish a community of learners dedicated to improving 

cultural competency in their teaching practices.

10/17/2020, 

10/24/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 37 
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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Nebraska 

Association of 

Teachers of Science 

Annual Fall 

Conference “Using 

a Learning Model 

to Guide Cohesive 

Lesson 

Development in 

Science Education”

During this session the Smithsonian Science Education Center provided the framework for developing a 

sequence of lessons for K-12 classrooms, museums, or learning centers that draw on the "Smithsonian Science 

for Global Goals" Community Research Guides that help youth ages 8-17 discover, understand, and act on the 

most pressing socio-scientific challenges of our time (such as food security, renewable energy, biodiversity, 

and climate science). These freely available guides are based on the Smithsonian’s Global Goals Action 

Progression learning model that combines key pieces of inquiry-based science education, social and emotional 

learning, education for sustainable development, and civic engagement. SSEC showed how to turn set of 

seemingly disparate set of “free lessons” into a cohesive “curriculum” that first helps you understand 

students’ identity, cultural context, and learning disposition toward science; then engages students in 

questioning and investigating the issue using their community as their laboratory; supports students critical 

reasoning and systemic understanding of the issue from multiple perspectives; and then finally encourages 

students to use their new scientific knowledge to take action in their own communities. The presenters will 

used their new “COVID-19! How Can I Protect Myself and Others?” community research guide for youth as an 

example lesson sequence.

10/3/2020 Completed Women Yes

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Citizen Science SDG 

Conference 

“Smithsonian 

Science for Global 

Goals”

In this session, SSEC discussed how to integrate citizen science into Smithsonian Science for Global Goals 

(SSfGG), a series of free online Community Research Guides for youth ages 8-17 that contain carefully 

sequenced transdisciplinary science lessons interwoven with education for sustainable development. Through 

the development of a series of modules (e.g., Mosquito, Food, COVID-19, Biodiversity, and Sustainable 

Communities) SSEC began to use the SDGs as a framework for engaging youth in discovering, understanding, 

and acting on the science of global issues faced by their communities. However, one of the challenges with 

abstract global goals is how to apply them concretely in local settings. This session discussed how we 

integrated citizen science into the SSfGG program, designed to incorporate place-specific data and community 

perspectives to ensure local relevance to bring about transformational impact. We argue that it is not enough 

to teach students that the SDGs exist. Instead, SSEC sought new ways for learners ages 8-17 around the world 

to embody the SDGs in their communities every day. In other words, the goal of the SSfGG project is to not 

only teach students the science behind these socio-scientific issues, but to drive students’ capabilities to act to 

use this science to do social good in their communities and the world. However, to drive students to act, we 

need to assess their propensity for changing their own behaviors, or micro-actions. This session discussed how 

the Smithsonian is working with Aarhus University to embed “extreme citizen science” into SSfGG through 

digital citizen science tools and games based on behavioral economics developed by Dr. Jacob Sherson and his 

team at Science At Home. We also discussed how we are using their Citizen Science Notebook as a tool for 

students to move up the “ladders of participation” in citizen science from “traditional citizen science” to 

“extreme citizen science,” which “takes into account local needs, practices, and culture and works with broad 

networks of people to design and build new devices and knowledge creation processes that can transform the 

world” (University College London, 2019).

10/14/2020 Completed Women Yes

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

The Price of Being a 

Minority Woman in 

Science: Dr. Shirley 

Malcom Reflects on 

44 Years of The 

Double Bind

Distinguished guest, Dr. Shirley Malcom, Senior Advisor and director of SEA Change at the American 

Association for the Advancement of Science, spoke with three educators from the Smithsonian in three 

consecutive fireside chats about her seminal 1976 report, The Double Bind: The Price of Being a 

Minority Woman in Science, 44 years after its publication. In the report, Dr. Malcom and her co-authors 

argued that the struggles to be scientists were greater for women of color than for white women or for 

men of color. The persistently low numbers of women of color in STEM in 2020 support this claim, and 

the limited number of teachers of color in STEM education (less than 1 teacher of color for every 50 

students of color) perpetuate this disparity. Yet, despite progress in graduating more women of color in 

STEM fields, women of color continue to be underrepresented at the advanced levels in most STEM 

fields and do not persist in these positions for a variety of factors (Pew Research, 2018).

10/20/2020 Completed Women Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

1st South East Asia 

STEM International 

Conference (SEASTEM-IC) “Using 

the UN Sustainable 

Development Goals 

to Teach Inquirybased STEM 

Education in 

Challenging Times

In the era of COVID-19, racial and gender inequities, climate change, and the digital divide; STEM 

educators play a critical role in helping students discover, understand, and act on real-world challenges 

that affect us. In this session Dr. Carol O’Donnell, SSEC's Director, discussed teaching inquiry-based 

STEM education (IBSE) in complex times and how the Smithsonian is using the UN Sustainable 

Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for helping students maintain high interest in STEM as a 

path to doing social good. Dr. O’Donnell will draw on SSEC's recent chapter published in the book 

“Education Around the Globe: Creating Opportunities and Transforming Lives” 

(https://www.infoagepub.com/products/Education-Around-the-Globe) and will share free curriculum 

resources for STEM educators to guide their instruction.

10/20/2020 Completed Asian Americans

Women

Yes

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Bloomberg 

Sustainable 

Business Briefing: 

Empowering the 

Workforce of the 

Future.

In this Bloomberg Sustainable Business Briefing, we’ll examine how companies and Gen Z can connect 

to build the better working world of the future. How should business engage with the next generation 

to support their passion for sustainability and equality? Can we respond to and act on their priorities 

today in order to secure a better tomorrow? SSEC Director, Carol O’Donnell, will participate in a panel 

conversation led by a Bloomberg journalist discussing how to educate, inform and support the 

workforce of the future. In addition to streaming live on our virtual event platform, this Bloomberg 

Sustainable Business Briefing will also be livestreamed on the Bloomberg Terminal, Bloomberg.com, 

and via our Bloomberg social media channels. Bloomberg TV will also have the ability to take sessions 

live, and we will also invite outside press to attend.

12/1/2020 Completed Women Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

 Zero Barriers in 

STEM

A free program designed to support District of Columbia Public Schools efforts to ensure 

STEM is accessible to all youth along the continuum of human ability, which incorporates 

universal design practices into K-8 STEM teaching and learning (see: 

https://ssec.si.edu/zero-barriers); for a free guide "Zero Barriers in STEM Education" which 

provides strategies for K-8 STEM teachers see: 

https://ssec.si.edu/sites/default/files/other/zerobarriers/ZeroBarriersWorkbook.pdf 

FY 2020 - 

Ongoing 

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Girls and Women in 

STEM

A set of free classroom resources that support girls' engagement in STEM in partnership 

with others (see: https://ssec.si.edu/girls-and-women-in-stem)

FY 2021 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science for Maker 

Spaces

A free series of lessons aligned with standards that builds students computational literacy 

for STEM classrooms (see: https://ssec.si.edu/makerspaces)

FY 2021 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science for Global 

Goals

A free curriculum for ages 8-17 on transdisciplinary real-world issues such as COVID-19, 

mosquito-borne diseases, food security, etc. (https://ssec.si.edu/global-goals)

FY 2021 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science Stories 

STEM Literacy 

Series

The Smithsonian Science Stories STEM Literacy series is available for free at 

www.carolina.com/learningfromhome and on Apple eBooks. This series of educational 

books for elementary school age readers includes and features books on people, places 

and objects from the Smithsonian's collection that show how science is evident in history, 

art, technology, and popular culture; as well as, align to science standards. 

FY 2021 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science for North 

and South Carolina 

Classrooms: Trainthe-Trainer

As a launch of the programming for the Smithsonian Science for North and South Carolina 

Classrooms project funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation 

and Research (#U411C190055) grant program with students early next year, the SSEC 

conducted virtual training for trainers on December 2, 8, and 9. Thirty trainers and 

partners from the two states participated in synchronous and asynchronous learning to 

prepare them to instruct teachers on facilitating Smithsonian Science for the Classroom 

engineering modules with their third, fourth, and fifth graders. This work will include 

schools from 7 districts in North and South Carolina and will impact approximately 7,800 

students annually.

12/2/2020, 

12/8/2020, 

12/9/2020

Completed

African Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

 Zero Barriers in 

STEM Teacher 

Leader Trivia Night

On Thursday, December 3, 2020, team members of The Smithsonian Science Education Center’s 

Professional Services Division hosted a Teacher Leader Trivia Night. The social event was birthed out of 

a desire to celebrate the commitment of DC Public Schools teacher leaders participating in the Zero 

Barriers in STEM Education initiative. The Zero Barriers in STEM Education initiative, funded by General 

Motors and Smithsonian Accessibility Innovation Funds, offers teachers in DC Public Schools 

professional learning opportunities, high-quality science content and materials to strengthen their 

ability to use inclusive strategies in their classrooms. The initiative also prepares teachers to become 

leaders of change in their schools by supporting teachers to form a school-based team that identifies 

and addresses an area of improvement in utilizing inclusive and accessible practices in STEM 

programming so that all students have robust STEM experiences. The Trivia Night offered a chance for 

the SSEC to reconnect with teacher leaders and acknowledge all the progress made in the Zero Barriers 

in STEM Education initiative.

12/3/2020 Completed Women Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Bibliotheca 

Alexandrina 

Smithsonian 

Science 

Professional 

Development 

The Smithsonian Science Education Center collaborated with colleagues at the Bibliotheca 

Alexandrina’s Planetarium Science Center (PSC) in Alexandria, Egypt. The four-day virtual 

workshop held February 8-11 was attended by museum animators, master teachers, and 

exhibit creators. Participants used seven units from Smithsonian Science for the Classroom 

to explore science and engineering practices, and identify how they can engage students 

with these practices in both museum and classroom settings, This learning was further 

enhanced by integrating activities from Smithsonian Science for Global Goals materials 

that exemplified the practices, and emphasized global-local interconnection. 

2/8/2021-

2/11/2021 Completed

African Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 41 
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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

2021 STEM 

Education Summit: 

Building a Coalition 

for Attracting and 

Retaining a Diverse 

STEM Teaching 

Workforce

The Smithsonian Science Education Center, through generous contributions from Shell Oil 

Company, hosted the fifth annual STEM Education Summit on Saturdays, February 20-27, 

2021. Fifteen (15) teams representing schools, districts and states across the US, and their 

mentors, participated in live and asynchronous sessions to develop a logic model that they 

would implement during the subsequent school year to increase diversity in their STEM 

teacher workforce. Teams engaged in sessions led by industry experts to: understand 

what is involved in enacting and sustaining systemic change; position their organization on 

a continuum for systemic change based on current policies and practices; and name a 

specific problem in their organization related to either attracting or retaining STEM 

teachers from underrepresented populations. Ultimately, teams created a plan complete 

with clearly defined goals, action items and short, and long-term outcomes to prepare for 

implementation when they returned to their respective locations.

2/20/2021-

2/27/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Zero Barriers in 

STEM, Mid-Year 

Professional 

Development

On Wednesday, March 17, Professional Services hosted a professional development for District of 

Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) teachers involved in the Zero Barriers in STEM program. Currently, 

there are 14 teachers, representing 9 schools within DCPS who have been invited to attend. There were 

8 teacher leaders present for this PD. The PD had a few objectives which include: sharing the progress 

that has been made along the Zero Barriers program, gain more insight about the current teaching 

conditions and accomplishments teacher leaders have experienced so far this school year and provide 

an opportunity for teacher leaders to review the Smithsonian Science Education Center physical science 

curriculum materials and resources that they were provided during a summer 2020 PD. Additionally, 

this was a chance to help teacher leaders think about alternative ways to lead lesson activities so that 

the lessons are more appropriate for a fully virtual or blended learning environment. Teachers 

commented that they appreciated the opportunity to review aspects of the program and the 

expectations for the remainder of the year, where they will attend a virtual summit and develop an 

action plan, with a team of their peers, to address an area of improvement in accessible and inclusive 

STEM learning within their school community.

3/17/2021 Completed Women Yes

Education

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Paper/live 

presentation about 

Leadership 

Professional 

Development for 

Diversifying the K12 STEM Teaching 

Workforce at the 

94th Annual 

International 

Conference of the 

NARST

On April 8th, the Smithsonian Science Education Center presented some of the findings 

from the 2019 (-2020 summer) Diversity Summit, titled "Leadership Professional 

Development for Diversifying the K-12 STEM Teaching Workforce" at the Teachers and 

Justice session, Strand 11: Cultural, Social, and Gender Issues of the 94th Annual 

International Conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching 

(NARST), where over 1200 scholars, researchers, and educators attended from around the 

world. 

4/8/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

MnCOSE - Teaching 

Youth about the 

Science of COVID19: How can they 

protect themselves, 

their families, and 

their communities

To support the release of the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals module, COVID-19! 

How can I protect myself and others? the Smithsonian Science Education Center hosted 

two dissemination workshops for the Minnesota Science Teacher Association's Conference 

on Science Education. These workshops were intended to support educators, parents and 

caregivers to engage young people in their lives with the module in an in-person, hybrid, 

or at-home school setting, and to help young people better understand COVID-19 and how 

to keep themselves safe.

11/17/2020, 

11/18/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Kappa Delta Pi: 

Teaching youth 

about the science 

of COVID-19 With 

the Smithsonian 

Science Education 

Center; 

Marymount 

University: COVID19! and Food! 

Workshop with the 

Smithsonian

To support the release of the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals module, COVID-19! 

How can I protect myself and others? the Smithsonian Science Education Center hosted 

two dissemination workshops: a workshop for the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor 

Society in Education and a workshop for a group of pre-service teachers at Marymount 

University. In these workshops, educators discussed how they feel about returning to 

school, learned how the COVID-19 module helps youth learn about the underlying science 

and social science of the pandemic, and practiced some of the hands-on activities 

educators and caregivers can use to help students understand how to protect themselves 

and others from COVID-19. 

1/14/2021, 

3/1/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Conferences w/Colleges or 

Universities

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Garvy Elementary 

School Family 

STEM Night 

On April 8th, the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC), supported a Family STEM Night at Garvy 

Elementary School in Chicago, IL. Garvy is a K-8 elementary school. The SSEC engaged two groups of 

students in two different workshop sessions, reaching approximately 30 students and their families in a 

hands-on activity. This is the first time this annual STEM event has been held virtually. SSEC 

collaborated with Junior Achievement Worldwide and volunteer employees from Johnson & Johnson to 

participate in the Family STEM Night. During the workshop, SSEC provided students an opportunity to 

participate in the Styling Sun Safety activity. Students were encouraged to design and engineer 

solutions to protect people from harmful UV rays, based on strategies found in nature. Students 

learned about how animals use a variety of adaptations to protect themselves from getting too much 

Sun. They made connections between those adaptations and the strategies people use to keep 

themselves safe from the Sun. Using design-thinking strategies, students created an outfit for a Sun 

safety fashion show, connecting to the ideas they learned from Sun safety techniques used by animals 

and people. In the second workshop session, students participated in the Weather Widget activity. 

Weather Widget is a Makerspace Activity that engages students in developing predictions of future 

weather events based on patterns found in data. Using computational thinking and data analysis, 

students investigated how different locations can have different weather effects and designed solutions 

to problems caused by unique weather conditions.

4/8/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 43 
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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

COVID-19! How 

Can I Protect 

Myself and Others? 

Dissemination

To capture the impact of the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals module, COVID-19! 

How can I protect myself and others? the Smithsonian Science Education Center put 

together an online dissemination form. In the past quarter, it has been reported that 5 

educators across the United States, (Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and 

Georgia) and Egypt, have been using the COVID-19! guide with 286 students in Arabic, 

English, and Spanish. Dissemination methods have included using digital and paperback 

copies of the guide with students in addition to utilization of social media. 

1/1/2021-

3/1/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Bootons la COVID19! Module – 

COVID-19! 

Dissemination in 

Benin

The InterAcademy Partnership and the Smithsonian Science Education Center will be disseminating the 

COVID-19! How Can I Protect Myself and Others? Community Response Guide, within Benin, Ghana, 

and Ethiopia in collaboration with Young Academies. Through a competitive application process, Ghana 

Academy of Arts and Sciences, Benin Young Academy of Science, and the Ethiopian Academy of 

Sciences were selected to receive funds from the InterAcademy Partnership for disseminating the 

COVID-19! guide to young people and educators within their local communities. On April 4 and April 9, 

2021, 536 primary, secondary, and university-age students learned about and did activities from the 

COVID-19! guide through an initiative of the Academy of Young Scientists of Benin and the Applied 

Microbiology and Pharmacology of Natural Substances Research Unit of the Polytechnic School of 

Abomey-Calavi (EPAC). This initiative aims to strengthen the capacities of young students of high 

schools and colleges in South Benin as well as students of the University of Abomey-Calavi, for a 

participatory fight against the pandemic.

4/4/2021, 

4/9/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced CommunitiesWomen

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Education SSEC

COSIP.TV: COVID19! How Can I 

Protect Myself and 

Others?

The Smithsonian Science Education Center has maintained a close collaborative relationship for several 

years with the Mexican civil association Innovación en la Enseñanza de la Ciencia (INNOVEC). INNOVEC 

is a non-profit non-governmental organization, which was established in 2002 and aims to contribute to 

improving the quality science education for young people in Mexico. In the context of the COVID-19 

pandemic, both institutions agreed to collaborate to COVID-19!: How can I protect myself and others? 

in Mexico. This dissemination has included several webinars throughout Mexico, in addition to the 

development of 7 videos that are based on the content of the COVID-19! guide. The videos and 

platform have the objective of helping teachers and families, in addition to helping young people 

understand, through a scientific and socio-emotional approach, the disease and the repercussions it has 

had through a series of investigative activities, animations and participation of experts. This project has 

been incorporated into the Learn at Home program in Mexico City, a strategy used in the country to 

continue formal education at home through television and the Internet. In addition, there are plans for 

the program to expand to other states and reach many more people. View the videos here!

2/18/2021 Completed

Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 44 
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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Crane High School 

STEM Day

The Smithsonian Science Education Center supported an all-day STEM event at Richard T. Crane High 

School in Chicago, IL. Crane is a pre-med high school with a diverse student body. The SSEC, engaged 

three separate groups of students in 9-11th grade, reaching nearly 300 students in a workshop type 

activity. This is the first time this annual STEM event has been held virtually. SSEC collaborated with 

Junior Achievement Worldwide volunteer employees from Johnson & Johnson to participate in the 

STEM Day. During the workshop, SSEC provided students an opportunity to participate in an activity 

from the COVID-19! How can I Protect Myself and Others? module. Students were encouraged to share 

their thoughts and start a conversation about how they, and their families, have been impacted by 

COVID-19. Students were provided the following prompt, How has your identity changed over time? 

Curriculum Developers from SSEC, currently designing activities for a new Smithsonian Science for 

Global Goals Vaccines! Community Resource Guide, provided students the opportunity to field test two 

activities from the upcoming Vaccines! guide. Feedback from these students will help the developers to 

inform their process as they continue writing the Vaccines! guide. The module will be released in May 

and available for students ages 8-17 across the country and around the world.

3/18/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science for North 

and South Carolina 

Classrooms: Trainthe-Trainer

In a continuation of the training launched last December, the Smithsonian Science for 

North and South Carolina Classrooms project funded by the U.S. Department of 

Education’s Education Innovation and Research (#U411C190055) grant program hosted 

training on June 22 and 24. Seventeen trainers and partners from the two states 

participated in the virtual workshop in preparation to deliver content-focused 

intermediate professional development to the 140+ third-fifth grade teachers in North and 

South Carolina in August. The trainings offer a deeper dive into the underlying content of 

the Smithsonian Science for the Classroom module they are implementing in their 

classrooms while modeling pedagogical best practices and formative assessment 

strategies.

6/22/2021, 

6/24/2021 Completed

African Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Zero Barriers in 

STEM Education 

Wednesday 

Webinars

The Smithsonian Science Education Center, through a generation contribution made by 

General Motors and Smithsonian Accessibility Innovation Fund, hosted a webinar series 

focused on accessibility and inclusion. The Smithsonian Science Education Center 

expanded its efforts and offered webinars developed for the Zero Barriers in STEM 

Education Summit for all school districts. The webinars between April and June. This series 

of webinars was meant to support educators in understanding why conversations about 

accessibility and inclusivity are important for STEM learning and provide instructional 

strategies that can help STEM educators adopt sound practices to teach students with 

disabilities. Webinar attendees heard from STEM experts, and advocates, in education and 

industry about the social impact of accessible STEM programming. They also learned about 

best practices to improve accessible and inclusive K-12 STEM learning at the school and 

district level.

4/21/2021-

6/16/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 45 
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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Remake Learning 

Days Across 

America: Food! 

How can we ensure 

good nutrition for 

all? 

As a part of the DMV region's Remake Learning Days Across America Festival, the 

Smithsonian Science Education Center provided a professional development workshop on 

the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals Food! How Do We Ensure Good Nutrition for All? 

community research guide. Throughout this workshop, the SSEC engaged participants in 

several activities from each task and shared the transdisciplinary approach to learning 

embedded in the research guide, illustrating the integration of inquiry-and place-based 

science education, civic engagement, and social emotional learning. You can learn more 

about the Food! research guide here: https://ssec.si.edu/food.

5/11/2021 Completed Women Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Educate Lanka and 

SSEC COVID-19! 

How Can I Protect 

Myself and Others? 

Train-the-Trainer 

On Tuesday, May 18, the Smithsonian Science Education Center provided a train-thetrainer workshop for educators supporting the Educate Lanka Foundation, a non-profit 

organization based in Sri Lanka that is planning to utilize the Smithsonian Science for 

Global Goals project's COVID-19! How Can I Protect Myself and Others? community 

response guide with 30 young leaders from 5 locations across Sri Lanka. Within this 

program, these young leaders are equipped with the skills necessary to be agents of 

change in their communities in hopes that they will identify global issues with local 

relevance, and in turn, design and implement solutions. To connect with the objectives of 

this Educate Lanka program, the train-the-trainer workshop was focused on providing 

teachers with a background on the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals framework, a 

deeper understanding of each task within the guide, and a space to reflect on the socialemotional learning supports embedded in the guide and how this content could be used 

with the young leaders in their context.

5/18/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Oschner Health 

Workshop: 

Vaccines! How can 

we use science to 

help our 

community make 

decisions about 

vaccines?

On June 1, 2021, the Smithsonian Science Education Center presented the Vaccines! How can we use 

science to help our community make decisions about vaccines? Community Research Guide to 

educational leaders who in collaboration with Oschner Health education and outreach program. 

Oschner Health, based in New Orleans and serves Gulf Coast communities in Louisiana and Mississippi, 

and dedicates extensive to support to health education and community outreach. The session was 

attended by 22 educational leaders representing school districts, schools, after-school and summer 

programs throughout the region. This session will be followed up by additional training sessions 

provided by the SSEC targeted at classroom, after-school, and summer educators to support them in 

using the Vaccines! content with their students, and one-on-one support from Oschner education staff. 

The Oschner group will also be a part of the SSEC’s “back-to-school” programming to bring the 

Vaccines! guide as well as the COVID-19! How can I protect myself and others? guide to educators as 

they prepare to go back to school in fall 2021. The collaboration between the SSEC and Oschner Health 

was initiated by Johnson & Johnson, a funder of the Smithsonian Science Education Center.

6/1/2021 Completed Women Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 46 
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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Affiliates Office 

Hours: Vaccines! 

How can we use 

science to help our 

community make 

decisions about 

vaccines?

In an effort to support Smithsonian Affiliates across the country, the Smithsonian Science 

Education Center presented on the Vaccines! How can we use science to help our 

community make decisions about vaccines? Community Research Guide at the 

Smithsonian Affiliates Office Hours on June 2, 2021. This session provided a brief overview 

of the Vaccines! guide and walked participants through several activities from the guide 

itself, in hopes that this content will support Affiliate museums in their educational 

outreach efforts about vaccines. The SSEC will be following up with these groups in the 

fall, providing a deeper dive and additional support for the implementation of the 

Vaccines! guide.

6/2/2021 Completed Women Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Minneapolis Public 

Schools Workshop: 

Food! How can we 

ensure good 

nutrition for all?

On Wednesday, June 16, the Smithsonian Science Education Center provided a workshop 

for Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) teachers, IB coordinators, and Culinary & Wellness 

department on the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals project's Food! How Do We 

Ensure Good Nutrition for All? guide. MPS will be doing a weeklong Food & Nutrition 

STEM for all Intercession next school year for their middle school students, which will be 

based on the Food! guide. In this workshop, the SSEC provided an overview of the Food! 

guide, some activities and resources that could be relevant to the MPS program, in 

addition to a space for the MPS team to brainstorm how this curriculum could meet the 

needs of their intersession, teachers, and students.

6/16/2021 Completed Women Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Vaccines! How can 

we use science to 

help our 

community make 

decisions about 

vaccines? 

Dissemination

To support the release of the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals community response 

guide and the Secretary’s Vaccines & US work, the Smithsonian Science Education Center 

hosted four Vaccines! How can we use science to help our community make decisions 

about vaccines? dissemination webinars on Wednesday, May 5 and Thursday, May 13. The 

first webinars on May 5 (How to use Vaccines!) were focused on walking participants 

through each of the tasks and how it can be utilized with the students they serve. In the 

latter two webinars on May 13 (Diving Deep with the Developers of Vaccines!), the 

developers of Vaccines! walked participants through the development process of the 

community response guide, provided hands-on opportunities to participate in several 

activities from the guide, talked about the science of each task, and discussed why 

engaging young people in these conversations surrounding vaccines is important. Session 

participants represented 14 countries: Belgium, United States, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, 

Brazil, Chile, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Ecuador, Italy, Costa Rica, and the United 

Kingdom. 

5/5/2021, 

5/13/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 47 
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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Inaugural Advisory 

Committee 

meeting for the 

Network for 

Emergent 

Socioscientific 

Thinking (NESST) 

On June 21st, the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) brought together a group 

of 19 educators, organizational leaders, scientists, and researchers from around the world, 

and nine SSEC staff to convene the first Advisory Committee meeting for the Network for 

Emergent Socioscientific Thinking (NESST). This group will work together over the next 

year to foster and develop the SSEC’s work in the field of STEM Education for Sustainable 

Development (STEM4SD) and specifically the flagship Smithsonian Science for Global Goals 

project. This work is funded through the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation.

6/21/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

NSF INCLUDES 

Planning Grant: 

STEM Education 

Summit Alumni 

Workshop

With the NSF INCLUDES Planning grant and NSF DRK-12 grant, the SSEC and the Howard 

University held the virtual 2-day STEM Education Summit Alumni Workshop that we 

invited the former participants of the Summit 2017-2020 and their extended partners. The 

participants shared reflections of implementation of their action plans and discussed 

strategies and shared vision to diversify the K-12 STEM teaching workforce. During the 2-

day workshop, there were total 8 sessions.

7/8/2021-

7/9/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Smithsonian Sky 

Patterns Reader 

Professional 

Development 

On May 27, June 2, and June 9 the Smithsonian Science Education Center provided virtual professional 

development workshops for 225 Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) first grade teachers who 

impact 5,650 students annually. A part of a greater project with the Aerospace Corporation serving 

10,000 LAUSD students, the purpose of these workshops is to support teachers in integrating literacy 

into STEM teaching and learning via the Smithsonian Science Stories: Sky Patterns. Through this project, 

10,000 copies of the Sky Patterns book will be distributed to LAUSD first grade teachers to send home 

with their students. In addition, teachers will receive professional development that orients the 

teachers to the books, discusses ways in which teachers can integrate each story into their current 

curriculum, provides additional resources that exist Smithsonian-wide, and details resources specifically 

for language acquisition. In addition, these sessions involve a slightly scripted Q&A with Aerospace 

employees who offer up an inspiring story, helping build connections between the work and lives of the 

Aerospace employees and what the students will be reading in the classroom. These interviews will be 

shared with the first-grade teachers as additional supports that can be used in the classroom and at 

home. All three sessions were recorded for the remaining teachers who were not able to attend. 

Remaining teachers will attend PD with LA Unified School District staff using the SSEC’s recordings as 

the basis for their professional development. 

5/27/2021, 

6/2/2021, 

6/9/2021

Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science Summer 

School Virtual Field 

Trip with the 

National Museum 

of African American 

History and Culture 

On Friday, July 30, the Smithsonian Science Education Center, in collaboration with the 

National Museum of African American History and Culture's Christopher Williams, hosted 

a virtual highly immersive STEM experience for 45 fourth-grade students participating in 

summer school programming through Horizons Greater Washington. Through the 

Smithsonian Science Summer School program, Horizons’ teachers were trained online and 

are virtually implementing the SSEC's Smithsonian Science for the Classroom module How 

Can We Provide Energy to People's Homes?. During the virtual highly immersive STEM 

experience, Chris Williams built upon what the students have been learning through the 

SSEC curriculum and led the students in a hands-on activity with materials delivered to the 

students' homes. This event supported their classroom learning about electricity and in 

turn, how NMAAHC uses solar power to support the energy needs of the Museum. 

7/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science Summer 

School Virtual Field 

Trip with 

Smithsonian 

Environmental 

Research Center

On Friday, July 23, the Smithsonian Science Education Center, in collaboration with 

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, hosted a virtual highly immersive STEM 

experience for 45 fifth-grade students participating in summer school programming 

through Horizons Greater Washington. Horizons is an organization that prepares D.C. 

Public School students from low-income families to succeed by building academic and life 

skills outside the traditional school year. Through the Smithsonian Science Summer School 

program, Horizons’ teachers were trained online and are virtually implementing the SSEC's 

Smithsonian Science for the Classroom module What is our Evidence we Live on a 

Changing Earth?. During the virtual highly immersive STEM experience, Karen McDonald 

built upon what the students have been learning through the SSEC curriculum around 

erosion. This event supported the student's classroom learning about the different 

varieties of plankton and how they affect erosion. 

7/23/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Junior 

Achievement 

Career Speaker 

Series

On July 22nd, the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC), supported a Junior 

Achievement Career Speaker Series for Summer School programs in Chicago, IL. Students 

and Teachers were represented from grades K-8. The SSEC engaged 30 groups of students 

in a workshop session, reaching approximately 291 students and their teachers in a handson activity. SSEC collaborated with Junior Achievement Chicago and volunteer employees 

from Johnson & Johnson to participate in the summer school program. During the 

workshop, SSEC provided students an opportunity to participate in the What’s the Code? 

activity. Students were encouraged to design and execute a code for specific robot 

movements using everyday materials provided for them. In addition to problem-solving, 

decision-making and creativity, students use interpersonal skills needed in STEM2D careers 

such as presenting ideas, negotiating, organizing and working as a collaborative team.

7/22/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Arizona Science 

Teachers 

Association’s 

Science Teaching 

Symposium

On July 12, the Smithsonian Science Education Center facilitated short informational 

sessions on the newest Smithsonian Science for Global Goals rapid response Vaccines! 

How can we use science to help our community make decisions about vaccines? guide for 

100 Pre-K-12th Grade teachers at the Arizona Science Teachers Association’s Science 

Teaching Symposium. With a focus on Stability and Change, this symposium gave Arizona 

teachers an opportunity to learn about the Vaccines! guide and think about how they 

could utilize the content in their own contexts. 

7/12/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science Summer 

School Professional 

Development 

On June 25th, the SSEC provided online Professional Development for Horizons Greater 

Washington DC teachers and support staff participating in the Smithsonian Science 

Summer School Program (S4). The SSEC staff outlined the “Smithsonian Science for the 

Classroom” curriculum: “How Can We Provide Energy to People’s Home?” – 4th grade 

Energy Unit and “What is Our Evidence We Live on a Changing Earth?” – 5th grade Earth 

Science Unit. The SSEC staff presented a plan to implement specific lessons for a modified 

summer school program that includes both online and in-person programming for 

students. Every effort was made to allow students to complete hands-on activities despite 

the limitations of a portion of the class participating through distance learning. Teachers 

were also provided access to online resources that are useful for both teachers and 

students in both in-person and online settings. During the session, the teachers and 

support staff familiarized themselves with the unit, the online resources, and the selected 

lessons to be implemented in a hybrid format this summer. At the end of the session, 

teachers provided their feedback and asked questions.

6/25/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

 Panel: “Going 

Beyond the 

Curatorial Ranks: 

How do museums 

diversify our staff 

to expand and 

change the 

dominant 

narrative?”

Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Program Manager for Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and 

Inclusion (DEAI) was invited to speak on Friday, July 23rd, 2021 as a panelist, for an online discussion 

entitled, “Going Beyond the Curatorial Ranks: How do museums diversify our staff to expand and 

change the dominant narrative?”. This online panel was part of the Smithsonian American Women’s 

History Initiative (AWHI) 2021 Because of Her Story Virtual Internship Program, under the direction of 

the Office of the Under Secretary for Museums & Culture. The program requires its interns to engage in 

virtual weekly learning experiences that include curated and behind-the-scenes explorations of the 

Smithsonian, as well as discussions related to topics selected by the intern cohort regarding women’s 

and workplace issues. 16 interns who range in age and experience from sophomores in college to those 

who graduated in May 2021 attended the online discussion. The panel was an opportunity for SSEC to 

share information about its diversity initiatives and build awareness around ways that the Center is 

supporting educators nationwide to think about their hiring and recruitment practices. It was also an 

opportunity to discuss systems change work.

7/23/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Education SSEC

Smithsonian K-12 

Science Action 

Planning Institute

On July 27-29, the SSEC held it second fully virtual, free Smithsonian K-12 Science Action Planning 

Institute. Through a series of live and asynchronous meeting opportunities, individuals and teams 

tackled the challenge of ensuring K-12 science education serves the needs of all teachers and learners, 

whether it is taking place online, in the classroom, or in a hybrid learning environment. Following 

opening remarks from Under Secretary for Education, Dr. Monique Chism, participants had a chance to 

share lessons learned from the past year, explore how to integrate best practices in online and inperson K-12 science education, address issues of learning loss and learning recovery in STEM education, 

incorporate Smithsonian resources into their teaching, and discuss new America Rescue Plan funding 

opportunities. Over 170 schools, districts, state education agencies, and ministries of education 

representing 375,477 teachers and 5.9 million students from 19 countries registered for the event and 

are accessing content both synchronously and asynchronously through the Moodle course published by 

SSEC. Participants who complete the course and submit an action plan receive a certificate of 

completion to apply for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from their school districts. Over 41 action 

plans have been submitted to date.

7/27/2021-

7/29/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science for North 

and South Carolina 

Classrooms: 

Professional 

Development

As an activity of the Smithsonian Science for North and South Carolina Classrooms project 

funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research 

(#U411C190055) grant program with students, the SSEC conducted virtual professional 

development for 140+ grades 3-5 teachers of science in the month of March. Teachers 

from the two states participated in synchronous and asynchronous learning to prepare 

them to facilitate a Smithsonian Science for the Classroom engineering module with their 

third, fourth, or fifth grade students this spring and in the coming years.

3/3/2021-

3/31/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

Smithsonian 

Science for North 

and South Carolina 

Classrooms: 

Professional 

Development

As an activity of the Smithsonian Science for North and South Carolina Classrooms project 

funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research 

(#U411C190055) grant program with students, the SSEC conducted virtual professional 

development for 100+ grades 3-5 teachers of science over two weeks in August. 

Participants took a deeper dive into the underlying content of the Smithsonian Science for 

the Classroom module they’re implementing to better prepare for student’s potential 

misconceptions and plan their facilitation in the upcoming school year.

8/3/2021-

8/4/2021, 

8/10/2021-

8/11/2021

Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Teacher Workshops

Training

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Zero Barriers in 

STEM Education 

Teacher Leader 

Summit

The Smithsonian Science Education Center, through a generation contribution made by 

General Motors and Smithsonian Accessibility Innovation Fund, hosted the first Zero 

Barriers in STEM Summit on Saturdays, May 15 through May 22. The summit is part of a 

yearlong initiative to support teacher leaders in designing more accessible and inclusive 

learning opportunities for all students, but especially students with disabilities. At the 

summit, teacher leaders representing 5 District of Columbia Public Schools led a schoolbased team of their peers in the development of an action plan that addresses an area of 

needed improvement in accessible and inclusive teaching, STEM programming and school 

culture. District and school-level administrators from Los Angeles Unified School District 

and New Brunswick Public Schools totaling 32 participants impacting over 600,000 

students. Summit activities led by industry leaders and experts in K-12 education included 

presentations on equity in STEM education, a deep dive into the stages of systems change 

and discussions about each component of an operational action plan. 

5/15/2021-

5/22/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced CommunitiesWomen

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Education SSEC

The Global 

Classroom

The Global Classroom launched by Scarisbrick Hall School in Lancashire UK in partnership 

with the World Health Organization and UNICEF aims to bring together the world’s school 

children across the globe to connect and have a voice during the COVID-19 global 

pandemic. This monthly series features world-recognized speakers, celebrities and 

distinguished guests including Bear Grylls, one of the most recognized faces in terms of 

survival and outdoor adventure, Captain Dave Henson OBE who helped to found the 

Invictus Games which is also championed by Prince Harry, multi-music award winner, 

Heather Small who achieved massive success with M People and the mother of Lady Gaga, 

Cynthia Germanotta, Goodwill Ambassador for Mental Health from the WHO. Dr. Carol 

O'Donnell, Dr. Brian Mandell, and Ms. Katherine Blanchard of SSEC use their "teacher" 

voices to engage the students who log on in active hands-on learning. Over 14,000 

students participate live in each Global Classroom event.

11/20/2020, 

1/28/2021, 

6/8/2021

Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Education TSA

The Rise: Black 

Cooks and the Soul 

of American Food

It is long past time to recognize Black excellence in the culinary world the same way it has been 

celebrated in music, sports, literature, film, and the arts. From the start, the ingenuity and artistry of 

these cooks and creators have made an indelible mark on American culture—while also being 

consistently erased from the story of American food. In his new book, The Rise: Black Cooks and the 

Soul of American Food, chef, author, and television star Marcus Samuelsson presents an unforgettable 

feast of food, culture, and history that highlights the diversity and flavor of Black cooking today. Driven 

by a desire to fight against bias, reclaim Black culinary traditions, and energize a new generation of 

cooks, Samuelsson shares his own journey along with 150 recipes. He also tells stories about dozens of 

top chefs, writers, and activists that honor their creativity and influence. In conversation with Osayi 

Endolyn, James Beard Award-winning food writer, and Jerome Grant, former executive chef of Sweet 

Home Café at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Samuelsson discusses 

how Black cooking has always been more than soul food, with flavors that can be traced to the African 

continent, the Caribbean, across the United States, and beyond. Jamila Robinson, food editor for the 

Philadelphia Inquirer and vice-chair of the James Beard Foundation Journalism Committee, moderates.

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Civility's Role in 

Social Justice

As civility seems to decline due to increasing political polarization and easy mass communication via 

social media, should we remain civil in social and political discourse or does civility hinder progress? 

Does civility hurt or help the fight for social justice? Olúfémi O. Táíwò, assistant professor of political 

philosophy and ethics at Georgetown University, attempts to unpack the role of civility in today’s world 

and what its potential hazards might be specifically regarding justice. Táíwò examines what role civility 

already plays in the pursuit of social justice—both in past campaigns about social norms, like the “Ms.” 

form of address for adult women and the emerging norms of etiquette that encourage people to ask 

others their pronouns. He’ll also discuss what role it could play in future campaigns for justice, and 

what’s at stake—not only for the general public but even for activists, organizers, and political 

gadflies—if civility is left by the wayside.

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The Great Ones: 

Black Artists of 

Song from the 

Kennedy Center

Harry Belafonte, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Smokey Robinson: These recipients of 

the Kennedy Center Honors were so incredibly talented and of such singular gifts they truly reshaped 

the music, entertainment, and songs of our times. They each blazed a unique path through our history 

and our hearts, reaching into every corner of popular culture. Nothing was the same after them. Join 

Sara Lukinson, filmmaker and writer for the Kennedy Center Honors for 38 years, to examine their lives 

and view clips of their performances. Some of their stories are filled with joy, while others are darkened 

by the long shadow of racial prejudice. Through both, our appreciation for them grows. Lukinson, a 

multiple Emmy Award winner, created more than 200 short biographical films for the Kennedy Center 

Honors. She teaches at NYU and the 92nd Street Y.

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The List: Films and 

TV About Race To 

Watch Right Now

As America struggles through a crucial racial reckoning, film studios and media platforms have seen an 

increased interest in black-centered television shows and movies. But it can be difficult to know what to 

look for in a white-dominated media structure. NPR television critic and author Eric Deggans sheds light 

on some of the most important television shows and movies on race and culture to watch right now. 

From HBO’s “The Wire” and “Watchmen” to Netflix’s “When They See Us” to Do the Right Thing and In 

the Heat of the Night, Deggans discusses how to evaluate such material for its treatment of themes 

involving race and culture, and examines how structural racism can distort media messages.

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Duke Ellington: 

Genius Beyond 

Category

No one led a life, led a band, or made music like Duke Ellington. He was one of a kind—beyond 

category. American music specialist John Edward Hasse surveys the moving and inspiring story of a man 

who overcame racial, social, and musical obstacles to become one of the 20th century’s greatest 

musicians. Hasse covers the full sweep of Ellington’s life: his musical influences—including ragtime and 

dance music—growing up in Washington, D.C., and how he negotiated the city’s strict color line. Also, 

his breakthrough at Harlem’s Cotton Club; his way of personalizing his compositions for the individual 

gifts of his players; and his turn to greater spirituality as he got older, which prompted him to compose 

three Sacred Concerts. Hear the inside story of how the Smithsonian acquired Ellington’s vast archive, 

including 100,000 pages of unpublished music—a collection that, like the maestro himself, is a national 

treasure. Best of all, see and hear rare film footage of Ellington performing in all stages of his career, 

including such classics as “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” “Take the ‘A’ Train,” 

“Don’t Get Around Much Any More,” “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Mood Indigo,” and “Dancers in Love.” 

And take a look at his film roles in Anatomy of a Murder and Paris Blues and duets with Ella Fitzgerald 

and Louis Armstrong. Hasse is curator emeritus of American Music at the National Museum of 

American History and author of Beyond Category: The Life and Genius of Duke Ellington.

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The Visionary 

Genius of Frederick 

Douglass: 

Contradiction and 

Change

Frederick Douglass was a visionary—a prophet who could see a better future that lay just beyond reach. 

His talents were nothing short of extraordinary and he put his exceptional gifts to use in the service of 

freedom, helping to drive American slavery into oblivion. After the carnage of the Civil War, he played a 

central role in the re-founding of the American republic, and spent subsequent decades defending and 

perfecting it. Historian Richard Bell, a professor at the University of Maryland, examines Douglass’s life 

to reveal more than another great man on a pedestal. He was the slave who dreamed of being a 

senator, the unlettered child with no formal schooling who wrote three autobiographies and became 

one of our greatest literary figures. His life bursts with contradiction and with change. Douglass was the 

dignified, brilliant, and courageous freedom fighter who could sometimes be insecure, vain, and 

arrogant. He was an outspoken feminist who treated his own long-suffering wife like his servant. He 

was the fire-breathing insurgent who would eventually become an out-of-touch elder statesman. As he 

explores this many-sided man’s life, family, and career, Bell finds that to understand how the boy born 

into bondage in 1818 became the Frederick Douglass that we hold in such esteem, his visionary genius 

needs to be seen not as innate, God-given, and infallible, but instead as the imperfectly beautiful 

product of growth, change, self-doubt, and struggle.

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Slavery and the 

American 

Revolution

The American Revolution was a transformative moment in African American history, a war for freedom 

second only to the Civil War in significance. African Americans threw themselves into the war effort 

with more enthusiasm and with more at stake than did many white colonists. The chaos of the war 

itself brought many enslaved men new opportunities for independence as the British army promised 

freedom to those who might be willing to desert their rebel masters and join the king’s regiments. But 

after the British surrendered and evacuated, Black fortunes would diverge dramatically. In the North, 

the patriots’ victory spurred the rise of the anti-slavery movement, but in the South, that same great 

victory helped entrench plantation slavery for generations to come. In an engrossing and enlightening 

seminar, historian Richard Bell of the University of Maryland explores the American Revolution from the 

unfamiliar perspective of enslaved and free African Americans.

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The Flavors of 

Charleston: 

Signature Foods, 

Recipes, and Their 

Stories

Charleston, home to a singularly rich food tradition, was once known for growing the “king of southern 

asparagus,” called the Palmetto, and its famous Carolina Gold rice. The area’s cuisine combines 

ingredients and cooking techniques of three greatly divergent cultural traditions: Native Americans 

(hominy grits, squashes, and beans), the Gullah Geechee (field peas, okra, guinea squash, rice, and 

sorghum), and European settlers (garden vegetables, grains, pigs, and cattle). This rich mixture of 

ingredients and techniques would become Charleston cooking. Chef Kevin Mitchell, a faculty member 

of the Culinary Institute of Charleston and a South Carolina Chef Ambassador, and historian David S. 

Shields, author of Southern Provisions: The Creation and Revival of a Cuisine, take a delicious dive into 

the culinary specialties of the Charleston region, which include the famous rice and seafood dishes of 

the Low Country. Join Chef Mitchell as he demonstrates a recipe featuring the one ingredient that sets 

Charleston apart from any other food city in the country: rice. He makes the dish that makes Charleston 

the place you want to come eat, Hoppin’ John. (The recipe and ingredients list is provided to registrants 

in advance.) Mitchell’s and Shields’ forthcoming book, Taste the State: South Carolina's Signature 

Foods, Recipes, and Their Stories (University of South Carolina Press), is set for release in August 2021 

and is available for pre-purchase here. The program is made possible with the generous support of the 

Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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Charlie Parker: A 

Centennial 

Spotlight

In his short life, legendary jazz saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker changed the world of music, creating 

with a small group of innovators the musical style called bop or bebop. Like Louis Armstrong, Duke 

Ellington, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, he was a pioneering composer and improviser who ushered in 

a new era of jazz and influenced later generations of musicians and artists. Born in Kansas City, Kansas 

in 1920, this past year marked the centennial of the man who created and performed such greats as 

“Conformation,” “My Little Suede Shoes,” “Cool Blues”, “Scrapple From The Apple,” “Blues for Alice,” 

and Yardbird Suite, to name a few. Join the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra’s artistic director 

and conductor Charlie Young, Dwandalyn R. Reece, curator of music and performing arts at the National 

Museum of African American History and Culture, Gerald Dunn and Bobby Watson from the American 

Jazz Museum as they take us back in time to hear the Grammy Award-winning Parker’s sound and to 

understand how his brilliance and charisma had an impact on the course of music like no other.

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Chris Gardner: 

Finding Permission 

to Dream

Chris Gardner is best known as the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir The Pursuit of 

Happyness, which became a popular 2006 film starring Will Smith. Both tell Gardner’s rags-to-riches 

story as he and his young son struggled with homelessness while he vied to become the single trainee 

out of 20 to be offered a full-time position with the stock brokerage firm Dean Witter Reynolds. After a 

year on the streets, Gardner—who grew up with an abusive stepfather never went to college—landed 

the stockbroker spot. He eventually founded his own brokerage firm, became a millionaire several times 

over, and often shares his story as a sought-after inspirational speaker. In conversation with Brad Smith, 

CEO of Intuit and co-founder of The Wing 2 Wing Foundation, Gardner lays out his blueprint for 

building a dream-come-true life—even during uncertainty. He discusses the strategies he learned along 

the way to achieving a prosperous career, from a method for identifying your ultimate dream to a 

playbook for becoming world-class at it. Gardner’s business career provided the basis for his 

philanthropic work and an important personal philosophy: No matter how much wealth you achieve, 

true success comes from enriching the lives of others—so all can still have access to the American 

Dream. Join Gardner as he discusses how he hopes to inspire the next generation of problem solvers 

and change makers to claim their version of that dream.

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The Black Arts 

Movement

Galvanized by the post-World War II decolonization of African nations and the civil rights, black power, 

anti-war, and feminist and womanist movements, African-descendant cultural producers in the United 

States began overtly repudiating a European aesthetic and claiming a Black aesthetic that emerged 

from the lived experience of Black people. Unlike the New Negro Renaissance of the early-20th century 

that claimed New York City and Washington, D.C., as its loci, the Black Arts Movement (BAM) 

permeated rural and urban cities and towns in the U.S., specifically drawing on blues, jazz, Black folk 

culture, and Black idiomatic expressions as its foundation. Join Michele L. Simms-Burton, scholar of 

African American and Africana studies, and spend a day exploring the Black aesthetics and Black pride 

that define BAM and how this movement converges with and diverts from political, economic, and 

social landscapes of the 1960s and 1970s. Explore a number of Black cultural producers during this 

period, from the music to the literature to the Black-owned presses.

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Disability Visibility: 

Intersectionality in 

Art, Design, and 

Museums

One in four people in the United States lives with a disability. Some disabilities are visible, others less 

apparent—but all are underrepresented in media, popular culture, and art. In the 30th anniversary year 

of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Alice Wong, a disabled activist, media maker, and research 

consultant, rallied together the voices of today’s disabled community and culture in her collection, 

Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century. As founder of The Disability 

Visibility Project, Wong keeps the conversations going with an active online community dedicated to 

creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture. Beth Ziebarth, director of Access 

Smithsonian, leads the conversation with Wong; Riva Lehrer, artist and author of Golem Girl (One 

World); and Disability Visibility contributor s.e. smith, to discuss intersectionality in art, design, and the 

museum world through inclusive design and representation. Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories 

from the Twenty-First Century (Vintage), edited by Alice Wong, is available for purchase. 

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African Art and the 

Slave Trade

Between 1400 and 1900, nearly 20 million Africans were captured and sold into slavery. They left the 

continent in the holds of ships or on the backs of camels, bound for destinations across Europe, Asia, 

and the Americas. The modern world was built on the backs of these individuals, and their arrival in the 

northern hemisphere contributed greatly to its growth and development. In contrast, the African 

continent’s own development suffered as a result of this forcible depopulation. Art historian Kevin 

Tervala examines the Atlantic and Indian Ocean slave trades, with a focus on how African artists—and 

the societies that they were a part of—reacted to the sudden and brutal disruption and transformation 

and depopulation of the world’s second-largest continent. From the protective arts like Kongolese 

minkisi minkondi to the defensive architecture of Ganvie, a city built in Benin’s Lake Nokoué, Tervala 

highlights how the trauma of the slave trade forever altered Africa’s cultural history. By focusing on 

African states and societies that were the victims of widespread enslavement as well as those that rose 

to prominence by choosing to sell slaves, he also highlights how the slave trade simultaneously brought 

great wealth—and with it, luxurious arts made in silver and gold—to the continent.

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History Film Forum: 

MLK/FBI A 

Conversation with 

Director Sam 

Pollard

Film transports us to another time and place, offering new understandings of history, reinforcing or 

creating myths, and sparking powerful emotional connections to the past. The History Film Forum is a 

monthly online series from the Smithsonian that explores history on the screen and the evolution of 

film as public history. Screenings and discussions explore how and why film is so elemental to the way 

Americans understand and experience that history. The History Film Forum launches 2021 with the 

new documentary MLK/FBI. Based on newly discovered and declassified files, the film tells the tragic 

story of the FBI’s surveillance and harassment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Directed by Emmy Award 

winner Sam Pollard and featuring interviews with key figures, MLK/FBI explores the government’s 

history of targeting Black activists and the contested meaning behind some of our most cherished 

ideals. Join Pollard and Larry Rubin, a former field secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating 

Committee, in a conversation with Chris Wilson, the History Film Forum’s executive director and 

curator, that examines of the making of MKL/FBI and the issues it spotlights. A live Q&A is part of the 

program.

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The Harlem 

Renaissance: From 

New York to 

Washington, DC

One of the most creative and intellectually productive eras in African American history, the Harlem 

Renaissance of the 1920s was fueled by the contributions of African Americans in music, art, and 

literature. Duke Ellington, Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, Lois Mailou Jones, and Alain Locke are 

prominent figures of the period who also had strong Washington, D.C. roots. Historian and scholar 

Michele L. Simms-Burton, a former professor of African-American studies at Howard University, 

examines the creators and the works that came alive during a period whose influence continues to be 

felt.

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The Power of 

Voice: Vocal Coach 

Denise Woods on 

Making Yourself 

Heard

One of the most sought-after vocal coaches in Hollywood, Denise Woods has worked with Halle Berry, 

Will Smith, Mahershala Ali, Jessica Chastain, Kirsten Dunst, Laurence Fishburne, Idris Elba, Ray Liotta, 

Taraji P. Henderson, and Mike Myers, among many others, teaching them how to use their voice to 

enhance their art. Drawing on her new book The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard, 

Woods shares proven, practical, and invaluable tools to change both how we communicate and 

ultimately how we see ourselves. From America’s number-one most feared task—public speaking—to 

asking for a raise, establishing your presence in video meetings to a marriage proposal, we’re judged by 

our voice, our most crucial instrument of expression. Woods discusses how to develop your voice and 

be heard in everyday life, and also addresses topics such as how to be heard as a person of color and 

how to convey who we are by embracing our culture, region, and heritage. In conversation with NBC 4 

Today Anchor Jummy Olabanji, Woods traces her journey from shy child in New York City to successful 

performer, teacher at the Julliard School (from which she graduated) and the California Institute of the 

Arts to her work with a host of stars. She provides valuable tips and lessons to overcome common voice 

and speech issues and become confident, effective communicators.

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Saving Chinatown 

and Our Legacies 

Part of CULINASIA: 

The Future of Asian 

Food in America

Since its introduction to the United States more than 150 years ago, Chinese cuisine has become an 

American staple. Its cooking techniques, from stir frying and smoking to steaming and braising, have 

grown in popularity over the decades. At the same time, Chinese Americans have been ridiculed, 

shunned, excluded, and discriminated against. In the COVID-19 era, anti-Asian racism and violence 

against Asian Americans have been widespread, and many storied institutions—from small mom-andpop shops to massive dim sum banquet halls—have permanently closed their doors. Why is the survival 

of Chinese restaurants so essential to the future of American culture and to the soul of our cities? How 

do we preserve the legacy of Asian food in America, and why do these efforts matter now? Join a panel 

of chefs, advocates, and activists who discuss the future of Chinatowns across the country. The panel 

includes food writer Grace Young, a James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and co-creator of 

Coronavirus: Chinatown Stories; Brandon Jew, chef and owner of Mister Jiu's, Moongate Lounge, and 

Mamahuhu in San Francisco, and author of Mister Jiu's in Chinatown: Recipes and Stories from the 

Birthplace of Chinese American Food (Ten Speed Press); Jennifer Tam and Victoria Lee, founders of 

Welcome to Chinatown, a grassroots initiative supporting New York City’s Chinatown businesses; 

Daphne Wu, co-organizer of Save Our Chinatowns, an arts and culture initiative uplifting Bay Area 

Chinatown communities; and Wellington Chen, executive director of the Chinatown BID/Partnership in 

New York.

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Southeast Asia Got 

Something to Say 

Part of CULINASIA: 

The Future of Asian 

Food in America

Before the pandemic, opening a Southeast Asian restaurant, bar, or food business was an uphill battle. 

Over the last few decades, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and other Asian cuisines have become 

increasingly familiar to the American palate, both at home and in restaurants. Yet the national 

awareness and appreciation of Southeast Asian food has transformed much more slowly from curiosity 

and rejection to a craving that lingers long after the first flavor-packed bite. What makes Southeast 

Asian cooking and eating truly unique goes beyond the pungent flavors, colorful ingredients, and 

history of immigration often associated with the businesses built on these lesser-known culinary 

treasures. How will these cultural hubs keep their doors open during a global pandemic against doubly 

stacked odds, with anti-Asian racism at an all-time high? Is Southeast Asian food still on the rise? Can it 

maintain its pre-pandemic momentum as it approaches mainstream popularity—and, eventually, even 

ubiquity? Hear from celebrity chefs and restaurateurs Jet Tila, Food Network star and chef partner in 

Pei Wei Restaurant Group, and Christine Hà, the first blind contestant of “MasterChef”—and winner of 

its third season in 2012—and owner of The Blind Goat and Xin Chào in Houston. Then follow along as 

Genevieve Villamora, co-owner of the award-winning restaurant Bad Saint in Washington, D.C., and 

Vilailuck "Pepper" Teigen, author of The Pepper Thai Cookbook: Family Recipes from Everyone's 

Favorite Thai Mom (Clarkson Potter), demonstrate a recipe from the new cookbook.

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"Fast, Casual, 

Ethnic": Asian Food 

Beyond Misnomers 

and Myths Part of 

CULINASIA: The 

Future of Asian 

Food in America

Today, critically acclaimed Asian restaurants, food brands, and other food spaces in the United States 

are carving new paths forward, transforming both fine and casual dining. These cultural destinations 

receive both accolades and criticism in equal parts, yet their existence was unimaginable even 10 years 

ago. While past Asian American generations may have seen fast food as simply a means for entry-level 

job opportunities, children of Asian immigrants are flourishing in the fast-casual and food-brand spaces. 

Is this a trend, or a lasting opportunity for advancement for Asian communities here and abroad? What 

lessons have fast-casual and food-brand entrepreneurs learned pre- and during COVID? How can Asian 

American restaurateurs and entrepreneurs ensure their survival while also sustaining their family 

traditions and legacies? A national panel of Asian American food professionals explores the pervasive, 

harmful, and persistent myth that so-called “ethnic” food is supposed to be cheap and fast. The panel 

includes Kim Pham, a first-generation Vietnamese-American and co-founder of proud, loud Asian pantry 

staple company Omsom; chef Katsuya Fukushima, co-owner of Washington, D.C.’s Daikaya, Bantam 

King, and Haikan; chef Dale Talde, a three-time contestant on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” chef/owner of Food 

Crush Hospitality and Goosefeather in Tarrytown, New York; Sana Javeri Kadri, a third-generation 

Mumbai native and Diaspora Co. founder and CEO working toward a more equitable and delicious spice 

trade; and Food and Wine restaurant editor Khushbu Shah, whose primary interests include the 

foodways of the South Asian Diaspora. How have Asian American food establishments evolved from 

immigrant ownership as social advancement to second- and third-generation entrepreneurship rooted 

in a desire to promote and preserve cultures? Speakers examine the origins of long-held assumptions 

about Asian food and challenge us to grapple with how we might collectively move beyond 

them.ABOUT CULINASIA: Asian foods and cooking have long been an indelible part of America’s food 

culture, and yet we also harbor complicated relationships with the people who prepare our meals. 

Earlier this year, Asian American activists carried signs reading “Love Us Like You Love Our Food” as 

they denounced a surge of anti-Asian racism in communities across the United States during the global 

pandemic. CULINASIA is a dynamic, free series of virtual conversations that explore food legacies and 

the ways in which Asian Diaspora cuisine continues to change and enrich our lives. Join chefs, food 

writers, food entrepreneurs, home cooks, cookbook authors, and other participants whose heritage and 

experiences span the complex spectrum of Asian Diaspora identities in the United States as they discuss 

the successes, challenges, and future of Asian food in America. CULINASIA is curated by Burmese 

American restaurateur and cultural connector Simone Jacobson.

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Asian American 

Farmers Look Back 

to Go Forward Part 

of CULINASIA: The 

Future of Asian 

Food in America

In both film and popular media as well as farming and land ownership, Asian Americans have been 

historically underrepresented and repeatedly denied opportunities for advancement. In 2017, Asian 

Americans comprised less than one percent of U.S. farm owners, in comparison to the approximately 95 

percent of full-time operators who were white. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the California Alien 

Land Law of 1913, and Japanese internment during World War II are among the factors that 

contributed to sharp declines in previously "ubiquitous" Asian American land ownership. Whether as a 

means of "cultural reclamation" or with the intention of building lasting foundations for future 

generations, both the fictional and real-life drama of being Asian in America is further complicated by 

the model minority myth and the “perpetual foreigner” burden carried by diverse communities. The 

Oscar-nominated film Minari offers a unique opportunity to explore these themes. Join Asian American 

farmers and vintners for a discussion inspired by the semi-autobiographical story of a Korean American 

family that embarks on a new kind of American dream, traveling from their California home to a rural 

Arkansas farm where they nurture the father’s hopes of growing Korean produce to sell to vendors in 

Dallas. Presenters include Mai Nguyen, owner/operator at Farmer Mai and founder of the Asian 

American Farmers Alliance; Kamayan Farm co-founder Ariana de Leña; and Thai American winemaker 

Kenny Likitprakong of the family-owned, California-based Hobo Wine Company; and Kristyn Leach, 

whose project, Second Generation, supports communities of the Asian diaspora in tending to their 

respective food traditions and wisdom. Just announced! Following the conversation, join Kenny 

Likitprakong for a guided wine tasting featuring three selections from the Asian American-owned Hobo 

Wine Company. An optional wine tasting kit is available for purchase, and can be picked up from the 

Eastern Wine Bar in Washington, DC. Additional wine tasting kit information:

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Black Smoke: 

African Americans 

and the United 

States of Barbecue

Across America, the pure love and popularity of barbecue cookery has gone through the roof. Prepared 

in one regional style or another, in the South and beyond, barbecue is one of the nation’s most 

distinctive culinary arts. And people aren’t just eating it: They’re also reading books and articles and 

watching TV shows about it. But why is it, asks Adrian Miller—admitted ’cuehead and longtime 

certified barbecue judge—that in today’s barbecue culture African Americans don’t get much love? 

Drawing on his new book Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue, Miller 

reveals how Black barbecuers, pitmasters, and restaurateurs helped develop this cornerstone of 

American foodways and how they are coming into their own today. Miller shares the smoke-filled story 

of Black perseverance, culinary innovation, and entrepreneurship. Though often pushed to the margins, 

African Americans have enriched a barbecue culture that has come to be embraced by all. Join Miller as 

he celebrates and restores the faces and stories of the men and women who have influenced this 

American cuisine.

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Tamika D. Mallory: 

State of Emergency 

A Conversation on 

Race, Activism, and 

Change

Drawing on themes from her new book State of Emergency: How We Win in the Country We Built 

(Atria/Black Privilege Publishing), activist and social justice leader Tamika D. Mallory is joined in a 

roundtable discussion about racial inequality by comedian, actress, and producer Tiffany Haddish; 

model and activist Emily Ratajkowski; community leader and advocate Tony Lewis Jr; and April Ryan, 

White House correspondent, CNN political analyst, and D.C. bureau chief for theGrio, who serves as 

moderator. From her experiences at the forefront of social justice movements across the country, 

Mallory contends that history proves the issues of systemic racism, police reform, and state violence 

are not unique to the modern day and are not easily answered by popular sentiment or the recent 

election. Instead, she finds, they require smart, persistent engagement and knowledgeable activism. In 

what was called “the speech of a generation” by ABC News, Mallory declared that “Black people are 

dying in a state of emergency” at a Minneapolis press conference following the May 25, 2020 killing of 

George Floyd at the hands of police. The Harlem native is a cofounder of the organization Until 

Freedom and of the historic Women’s March. Mallory’s parents were founding members of Al 

Sharpton's National Action Network who imbued a passion for positive change that fuels her to this 

day.

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The African 

American Great 

Migration: Pursuing 

the American 

Dream

The Great Migration was the mass movement of mostly rural Black Southerners to urban cores across 

the country between 1916 and 1970. It was one of the most important moments in American history 

and reconfigured the nation’s politics, arts, and culture. As millions of people confronted the 

challenges of a new labor market, housing segregation, and Northern racism, African American 

communities redefined themselves as representative of Southern sensibilities and Northern realities. 

Marcia Chatelain, professor of history and African American studies at Georgetown University, 

examines how the enormous social upheaval changed families, especially as they understood 

generational differences, gendered expectations, and the possibilities of realizing a better life in cities. 

She also explores the reasons why some left, some stayed, and how our lives today continue to be 

changed by the Great Migration.

7/12/2021 Completed African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

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Our Deceptive 

Universe With 

Astrophysicist 

Hakeem Oluseyi

Before Einstein published his theory of special relativity, Isaac Newton’s view from centuries earlier was 

accepted as fact: that we live in a “clockwork universe” where time and space are constant. What 

Einstein first imagined, and what quantum physics later formulated, is the possibility that we operate in 

a multiverse—potentially an infinity of universes where different versions of our lives are playing out in 

ways both imaginable and unimaginable. Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi dives into this mystery—and 

why the universe we perceive is not the universe that actually exists. In trying to understand our 

deceptive universe, he examines spacetime, the illusion of mass, the large-scale structure of the 

universe, dark matter, and dark energy. Oluseyi recently served as the space science education lead in 

the Space Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he provided strategic 

leadership and management for the directorate’s investments in science education and 

communications.

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Driving the Green 

Book

Hit the road with award-winning journalist Alvin Hall and social justice trainer Janée Woods Weber as 

they document their 12-day, 2,021-mile road trip from Detroit to New Orleans inspired by The Negro 

Motorist Green Book, the historic guide (published 1936—1967) African Americans relied on to travel 

safely at the height of segregation and the Jim Crow era. During their journey, Hall and Woods Weber 

collected personal and powerful stories from Black Americans who used the Green Book to navigate 

trips, patronize Black-owned businesses, and come together in the face of institutionalized racism. Their 

route was based on information from The Green Book. They knew that thousands of African Americans 

would have made a similar trip when returning South to visit family during and after the Great 

Migration of Black Americans north and west. In each city they collected powerful, personal testimony 

from locals: former Motown musicians, activists, politicians, professors, historians, artists, and more. 

Hall and Woods Weber compiled these insights into "Driving the Green Book," a living history podcast 

from Macmillan Podcasts that sheds light on the communities that were created and thrived during 

that time. They discuss the stories of those who lived through the era, supported and uplifted each 

other, and fought for equality.

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Beyond Stonewall: 

How DC Shifted the 

Nature of Pride

On June 28, 1970 in New York City - exactly one year after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in 

Greenwich Village sparked the riots that marked the beginning of the modern LGBT+ rights movement - 

the first Gay Pride parade commemorated the event on what was called Christopher Street Liberation 

Day. Though the Stonewall was a racially diverse space whose patrons included white, black, and Latino 

gay men, trans women, and lesbians, the parade and those that followed over the years across the 

country gave rise to criticisms that public Pride events most often reflected the experiences of white 

gay men, and to some extent white lesbians—an argument that reflects wider issues of representation 

that still resonate today. Although the first Gay Pride parade was a key event in the progress of LGBT+ 

organizing, a lesser-known pivotal moment took place in Washington, D.C., in May 1991. Memorial Day 

weekend saw the city’s first Black Pride celebration, themed “Let's All Come Together.” It was organized 

with a decidedly different focus and intent than those stemming from Stonewall: to celebrate the 

beauty of a shared community and raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS. DC Black Pride, which 

now annually draws more than 35,000 participants, became the catalyst and model for similar events 

throughout the United States and around the world. Nikki Lane, assistant professor of Black queer 

studies in the Comparative Women's Studies Program at Spelman College, examines how and why the 

District served as the founding place for Black Pride celebrations. She also discusses how the shifting 

nature of Pride events—and ongoing debates around their organization—reflect a political landscape 

that has been in flux for LGBT+ people throughout the country.

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Pleibol and Eat 

Well!: Latino 

Culinary Traditions 

and Américas’ 

Game Part of 

Cooking Up History

If you’re a baseball fan, you probably have some favorite ballpark foods ranging from nachos to tacos, 

but have you thought about the food heritages they draw on and who made them popular? Explore the 

tangible connections between baseball and Latino culinary traditions and how Latinos have created 

culinary fusions and experiences that reflect broader themes and trends in American history—the 

themes explored in the National Museum of American History’s new exhibition ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios 

and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas. The Latino diaspora shaping these food 

traditions reaches across Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Cuba, as well as Texas, 

California, Arizona, and Florida. Their influence, shifting demographics, and changing tastes can easily 

be seen in the food at stadiums across the country. The Miami Mex hot dogs and Cubano sandwiches 

served at Tropicana Field in Florida are new takes on Cuban and Mexican culinary traditions; the Baja 

fish tacos at Petco Park in San Diego are rooted in local Latino communities in Southern California; and 

the Tex-Mex cuisine served at Yankee Stadium demonstrates the proliferation of regional Latino 

cuisines across the country. These dishes and many more showcase how baseball and Latino culinary 

traditions go hand in hand. Celebrate the opening of the ¡Pleibol! exhibition by joining Dayanny de la 

Cruz, executive chef at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, as she prepares a meal that represents the 

culinary cultures and heritage of baseball-loving families in Latino communities and share stories from 

the barrios and the Big Leagues. About Cooking Up History: As summer heats up, three dynamic 

Cooking Up History programs in July, August, and September share fresh insights into American culture 

past and present through the lens of food. Presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National 

Museum of American History—home of Julia Child’s kitchen and the FOOD: Transforming the American 

Table exhibition—each session features a guest chef from places as diverse as New Orleans and 

Toronto and a Smithsonian host preparing a dish and exploring the history and tradition behind its 

ingredients, culinary techniques, and enjoyment.

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Lena Richard’s New 

Orleans Cook Book: 

A Groundbreaking 

Story of Innovation 

and Resilience Part 

of Cooking Up 

History

Lena Richard, a Black chef and entrepreneur in New Orleans, built a dynamic culinary career in the 

segregated South, defying harmful stereotypes of Black women that severely diminished their role in 

the creation and development of American food culture and its economy. An icon in food history, 

Richard carved an inspiring professional path for herself. She owned and operated catering businesses, 

eateries, a fine-dining restaurant, a cooking school, and an international frozen-food business. In 1939, 

she captured her life’s work in a self-published cookbook that Houghton Mifflin republished under the 

title New Orleans Cook Book in 1940, the first Creole cookbook written by a Black author. After the 

release of her book, Richard’s growing national reputation as one of New Orleans' best chefs launched 

her career as an early food TV professional in 1949. Throughout her groundbreaking career, she 

reshaped public understanding of New Orleans cuisine by showcasing and celebrating the Black roots of 

Creole cooking in a time when pervasive racial stereotypes surrounded the food industry. Guest chef 

and New Orleanian Dee Lavigne prepares a classic Creole dish as she recounts Richard's heartening 

story, which is currently featured in a recently installed case, “The Only One in the Room: Women 

Achievers in Business and the Cost of Success,” in the American Enterprise exhibition at National 

Museum of American History. Lavigne also shares her own story as a chef and entrepreneur in the 

Crescent City and how she draws inspiration from Richard’s career as she continues to build her own 

business, Deelightful Desserts, during the challenges of the current moment. This program is hosted in 

collaboration with the Southern Food and Beverage Museum where Lavigne is the Director of Culinary 

Programming. About Cooking Up History: As summer heats up, three dynamic Cooking Up History 

programs in July, August, and September share fresh insights into American culture past and present 

through the lens of food. Presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of 

American History—home of Julia Child’s kitchen and the FOOD: Transforming the American Table 

exhibition—each session features a guest chef from places as diverse as New Orleans and Toronto and 

a Smithsonian host preparing a dish and exploring the history and tradition behind its ingredients, 

culinary techniques, and enjoyment.

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Stir-Frying to the 

Sky’s Edge: Chinese 

Americans and the 

Power of Stir-Frying 

Part of Cooking Up 

History

In Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge, culinary historian and award-winning cookbook author Grace Young 

writes of how for centuries the Chinese carried their woks and stir-frying techniques around the globe. 

In America, beginning around the late-19th century, Chinese immigrants struggled to establish 

themselves in cities and small towns—from San Francisco to the Mississippi Delta—while contending as 

well with poverty, discrimination, and to this day, anti-Asian bias. The ancient technique of stir-frying 

played an important role in the culinary lives of Chinese migrants and their families, providing comfort 

and a way to remain faithful to the culinary traditions of their homeland. For many, opening a Chinese 

restaurant provided their only means of survival. Many immigrant families eked out livelihoods by 

opening chop suey parlors, where that bland, made-up dish found eager American eaters. In 

conversation with a Smithsonian host, Young—known as "the stir-fry guru" and "wok therapist"— 

demonstrates her stir-fry expertise as she shares tips on wok mastery for home cooks. She prepares a 

savory stir-fry of garlicky cabbage and bacon, a dish devised in the 1940s by Lin Ong, who settled with 

her husband in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1928. Like many Chinese Americans struggling to feed 

themselves and lacking traditional Chinese ingredients, she improvised a stir-fry with two common 

American elements to feed her nine children. Young recounts her own San Francisco family’s unlikely 

wok story and discusses how the versatile cooking utensil may be facing extinction despite its 2,000-

year-old-history. She also covers the work she’s been doing to document the impact of COVID on 

Manhattan’s Chinatown and her campaign #SaveChineseRestaurants, as well her efforts to support the 

AAPI community nationwide. About Cooking Up History: As summer heats up, three dynamic Cooking 

Up History programs in July, August, and September share fresh insights into American culture past and 

present through the lens of food. Presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum 

of American History—home of Julia Child’s kitchen and the FOOD: Transforming the American Table 

exhibition—each session features a guest chef from places as diverse as New Orleans and Toronto and 

a Smithsonian host preparing a dish and exploring the history and tradition behind its ingredients, 

culinary techniques, and enjoyment.

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Mapping 

Indigenous DC

Washington, D.C., is Indian land. The city is built on the traditional ancestral homelands of the 

Piscataway and Anacostan peoples. And since 1789, scores of Native American delegates representing a 

variety of tribal nations have traveled to the District to advocate for treaty rights, negotiate with the 

federal government, establish peace agreements, and bring attention to other issues. Join Elizabeth 

Rule, director of the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy at George Washington University, to 

explore the history and legacy of Native Americans in the nation’s capital. Rule, an enrolled citizen of 

the Chickasaw Nation, draws on her forthcoming monograph Indigenous DC: Native Peoples and the 

Nation’s Capital to lead a visual tour that highlights locations with Indigenous connections across the 

city. Among them are Georgetown’s Dumbarton Bridge, Congressional Cemetery, the Embassy of Tribal 

Nations, and sites of Indigenous activism and art installations. She also discusses her digital publication, 

the Guide to Indigenous DC, which maps 17 sites of importance—including the U.S. Marine Corps War 

Memorial, the White House, Analostan/Theodore Roosevelt Island, and the Capitol—in a free mobile 

app.

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Fighting Slavery in 

the Civil War Era

The Civil War was the largest slave revolt in world history—and a war for freedom that hurled American 

history off its rails. It would end with the destruction of American slavery and the passage of the 13th 

Amendment. But it was the result of years of struggle and sacrifice by men and women who devoted 

their lives to advancing the freedom struggle. In the ten years before Lincoln was elected president, 

African American activists and their White allies had been building a national movement to focus 

Northern attention on the plight of Southern slaves. They used every tool at their disposal—polite 

persuasion, the call of Christian conscience, direct action to free the enslaved, and the threat of all-out 

race war—to advance their cause. When the Civil War began, many African Americans wasted no time 

fleeing their enslavers and rushing to the Union lines. Historian Richard Bell explores the antislavery 

fight, focusing on the people whose courage and personal struggle led to the final victory.

9/11/2021 Planned African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Virtual Symposium: 

American Women 

of Science: 

Recovering History, 

Defining the Future

AAA Oral Historian, Ben Gillespie participated in the panel discussion “Drawn Conclusions: Women and 

Scientific Illustration” as part of the virtual symposium American Women: Recovering History, Defining 

the future on October 28, 2020. The panel was broadcast was live to about 150 viewers and lives on 

YouTube now. The purpose of this virtual symposium is to support a more diverse, equitable, and 

inclusive future by recovering lesser-known histories of women in science, sharing current research and 

programming breakthroughs, and discussing opportunities to define a more diverse, equitable, and 

inclusive future. The Smithsonian hopes that this symposium will inspire and educate scientists and 

museum professionals, and support women on the ground. Given the Smithsonian's long history and 

growth across the 20th century—into nineteen museums and nine research centers—the Smithsonian's 

past and present provide a unique opportunity for internal reflection and external comparisons 

regarding the history of women in science.

10/28/2020 Completed Women Yes

Education

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Blog: Conversations 

across Collections 

with Crystal Bridges 

Museum of 

American Art

Conversations Across Collections is a collaborative series between AAA and the Crystal Bridges Museum 

of American Art that highlights archival documents and art from both museum’s collections to tell the 

story of American art. In the December 14, 2020, blog post, Marina Pacini reflects on an interview with 

artists Marisol and Red Grooms in AAA’s collection. The interview was an important source for 

understanding Marisol, both personally and professionally, for the exhibition and catalog, Marisol: 

Sculptures and Works on Paper, that Pacini completed for the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art in 2014. 

Born in Paris in 1930 to Venezuelan parents, Marisol was raised between Venezuela and the United 

States. She was primarily understood as being inspired by the art of New York and Europe, with little 

interest in her indebtedness to the art of her native country. Among her personal papers (now in the 

collection of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery), are postcards with images of abject dolls made by the 

Venezuelan artist Armando Reverón (1889–1954).

12/14/202

12/17/2020 Completed Women No

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Education

Written Blog on the Archives of 

American Art website

Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

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Museums & 

Culture AAA

There Are No 

Amateurs in Far 

West Texas

Josh Franco published an article on the Taylor Francis Online Art History Made by Hand site that 

explores notions of amateurism in relation to story-gathering, primary source classification, and other 

archival practices. The article examines how the author’s path to his role as National Collector at the 

AAA can be traced from his familial, art historical and intellectual roots in West Texas. Arguing that 

cultures of West Texas place an exceptionally high value on retaining and generating stories particular 

to the region’s history, Franco points to examples from archaeology, Texas history, art history, and 

contemporary art. Substantial scholarly work has been committed to the complex relationships 

between professional fine artists and untrained outsiders. Franco takes methods from these 

explorations in order to approach the equally complex relationship between professional statesponsored archival practices and similar endeavors undertaken by individuals and smaller, homegrown 

archival projects from a specific American region.

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Virtual Course 

Invitation: 

“Imaging Race: 

Photography, the 

Archive, and 

Boundaries of the 

Seen,”

Josh Franco was a guest lecturer invited by Instructor, Faye Raquel Gleisser on art and 

archives. This was a virtual event from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. 10/26/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Exhibitions

Virtual Programming

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Museums & 

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Virtual Roundtable: 

American Art 

Archives in Britain

Roundtable discussion on the topic of AAA in Britain which was conducted in a virtual 

setting at the Courtauld Institute. The session was recorded for web access. 11/4/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Exhibitions

Virtual Programming

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Museums & 

Culture AAA

Unboxed Lunch: 

about the papers 

from Emil Milan 

Josh Franco lead a conversation about Milan’s life and work, uncovering materials from this rich 

collection in real time, discussing the historical context, and answered questions about the collecting 

process along the way. Emil Milan was an American woodworker known for his carved bowls, birds, and 

other accessories and art in wood. Trained as a sculptor at the Art Students League of New York, he 

designed and made wooden ware in the New York City metropolitan area, and later in rural 

Pennsylvania where he lived alone and used his barn as a workshop. Participating in many 

woodworking, craft, and design exhibits of his day, his works are in the Smithsonian American Art 

Museum and Renwick Gallery, the Yale Art Gallery, the Center for Art in Wood, the Museum of Art and 

Design, and many private collections. Once prominent in midcentury modern design, Milan slipped into 

obscurity after his death.[1] His legacy has been revived by an extensive biographical research project 

that has led to renewed interest in his life, work, and influence.

12/16/2020 Completed Hispanics No

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Education

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Virtual Event: 

Death and the 

Archives of 

American Art 

Webinar - Latinx 

Horror in Art

This was a virtual discussion event held at the Smithsonian Latino Center with an audience 

of 14. 11/2/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Exhibitions

Virtual Programming

Program

Workforce

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

BLOG: 

Conversations 

Across Collections: 

Ruth Asawa at the 

Ankrum Gallery, 

1962

In a 2002 oral history interview with Ruth Asawa (1926–2013) and her husband, architect 

Albert Lanier (1927–2008), Asawa noted the indelible influence of her teachers Josef 

Albers and Buckminster Fuller at Black Mountain College: “they gave you permission to do 

anything you wanted to do. And then if it didn’t fit, they’d make a category for you.” As an 

artist, educator, wife, and mother of six, Asawa excelled in a category all her own. Known 

for her intricately woven wire sculptures, she created elegant organic forms—water 

droplets, kaleidoscopic bundles of branches, trumpet flowers—with twists and turns that 

play between inside and outside, open and closed, in combinations of steel, brass, iron, 

and copper.

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Women

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New Collections: 

Pandemic Oral 

History Project

To document the cascade of public health, social, and financial crises set in motion by COVID-19, the 

Archives of American Art developed an oral history series that recorded responses to the global 

pandemic across the American art world. Conducted via video conferencing software, the Pandemic 

Oral History Project offers eighty-five short-form interviews with a diverse group of artists, teachers, 

curators, and administrators. (For a complete list of interviewees, see https://s.si.edu/pandemic.) 

Averaging twenty-five minutes long, each interview provides a firsthand account of and urgent insights 

into the narrator’s triumphs and tragedies in the summer of 2020. Comprised of more than thirty hours 

of recorded video and audio, the series is a significant record of an unprecedented time as it unfolded. 

Collecting these stories during, rather than after, this extraordinary moment represents a new modality 

for the Archives, as does conducting oral histories at great distances and for such short durations. For 

the selection of interviewees, we were invested in capturing diverse voices and multigenerational 

perspectives. Thirty-five interviews were supported with federal funding from the Latino Initiatives 

Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. The team continued to assess the breadth of 

narrators throughout the project, adjusting outreach as needed.

5/5/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Collections

Education

Exhibitions

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

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High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

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Museums & 

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BLOG: 

Conversations 

Across Collections: 

Considering Art 

and Activism with 

Juan Sánchez

The Juan Sánchez papers at the Archives of American Art give the impression that, for this 

artist, little space exists between the pursuit of an artistic career and the pursuit of social 

justice. Though notably pronounced, Sánchez’s career is not alone in this association of 

course, as made clear by the robust lists of peers from Alice Neel(link is external) to JeanMichel Basquiat(link is external) and scores of others populating the checklists associated 

with exhibitions like Artists Support Black Liberation, which my colleague Xuxa Rodriguez 

examines in detail in her companion essay, Conversations Across Collections: Artists and 

Antiracist Activism(link is external).

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BLOG: New 

Collections: 

Toshiko Takaezu 

Papers

Born in the United States to parents who had immigrated from Japan, ceramicist Toshiko 

Takaezu (1922–2011) was often asked in interviews how her Asian heritage influenced her 

art. According to her 2003 Archives of American Art oral history interview, Takaezu felt 

conflicted about her bicultural background growing up. “[It] took me years and years to 

realize that it wasn’t one or the other,” she explained, “It’s yourself, you take the best of 

each.” This ability to synthesize what some might consider disparate strands of her life and 

create her own unique aesthetic is a constant theme in her papers. While Takaezu began 

donating material to the Archives in 1978, the final segment of her papers was recently 

acquired, and the entire collection is now being prepared for digitization.

1/12/2021 Completed Asian Americans

Women

No

Collections

Education

Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Ascension 

Worldwide 

Consulting Agency 

Findings

The partnership between Archives of American Art (AAA), Smithsonian Institution, began in April 2021 with a 

project to help AAA identify the current state of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) , to develop a strategic path 

forward that is inclusive of all voices within the organization. The assessment contained three major sections – 

collection and analysis of quantitative data through a comprehensive survey to all staff and a series of interviews 

obtained through one focus group based on certain protected identities, and interviews with key staff members and 

key stakeholders who have direct influence over the direction and commitment to DEI going forward. The survey 

link, i.e. assessment portion was opened on May 10, 2021 and the survey link was closed on May 27, 2021 upon 

which we collected 26 responses from 32 staff and key stakeholders from AAA representing an 81% return rate. 

This is a really high return rate percentage in relationship to industry standards. After the survey closed, data 

analysis began and a comprehensive look at the data led to the formation and design of interview questions to 

those who identified with a certain group but whose group numbers did not constitute a minimum needed for a 

focus group. Upon the director’s approval, it was agreed that those who had represented they were desirous of 

participating in a focus group – would be able to be interviewed 1-1 to make sure their feedback was collected and 

represented in the Findings and Recommendations Report. These ten 1-1 interviews, along with the 5 Key 

Stakeholder Interviews began in June and were completed at the end of July. The overwhelming majority of 

respondents were neutral in regards to the question assessing awareness of the DIIR being directly accessible to all 

Smithsonian employees although 40% were aware of the report and how AAA’s progress was measured annually 

and reported to the Smithsonian. The presence of the “I don’t know” answer would suggest exactly what it was 

intended to do with its presence as it was thought that many, in their long tenure with AAA, would not be able to 

recall if diversity and inclusion was part of their onboarding experience but I do feel it is safe to assess that it may be 

a good idea to include DEI (and DI accessibility standards in various contexts) in the onboarding experience at AAA. 

It seems a larger amount of those surveyed recalled a DEI experience with the Smithsonian that what was recalled 

at AAA. Another theme indirectly related to this question came up most in interviews is in the DIIR report, 

“accessibility” is included and usually the term “DEAI” is used in the larger organization to include accessibility in 

these conversations. This was also mentioned as an oversight but that accessibility should be included in the 

survey questions, the ongoing dialogue, training and conversations. Onboarding at Smithsonian and AAA - What 

may be of most importance in comparing the two relates the presence of the “I don’t know” option has shown 

what the organization originally thought my be present in these two questions and this was related to tenure and 

the fact that many may not have been able to recall the details of their onboarding experience. More agree that 

their Smithsonian onboarding included this discussion versus the AAA onboarding. 

4/2021 - 

9/29/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Advisory Boards

Education

Employee Affinity Groups

Recruitment

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Training

Program

Supplier

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

BLOG and 

Smithsonian 

Magazine: Color, 

Color Everywhere: 

The Dorothy Liebes 

Papers Shine in a 

Dark Pandemic 

Year 

Having a window into the details of someone else’s life, at least as it reveals itself on paper, is a 

privilege of being an archivist that I try never to take for granted, and there are times when a collection 

assignment feels especially timely. Such was the case with the Dorothy Liebes papers. I could not have 

hoped for a better collection to work on during the dark days of the past year than that of this 

trailblazing weaver, textile designer, and colorist, whose vibrant world unfolded before me as late 

summer rolled into fall.

Liebes opened her first professional studio for weaving and textile design in San Francisco in 1934. She 

initially produced high-end custom work for architects, interior decorators, and designers. Her first 

major client in the textile industry was the Goodall Company in Sanford, Maine. Liebes was closely 

involved in working out the technical methods for producing her handmade designs on machine looms, 

enabling her to expand her client base in the man-made fiber industry, move into mass production of 

her designs, and ultimately make them available at lower price points. Through her work with industry 

giants such as Dupont, Goodall, and Dobeckmun, Liebes was at the forefront of transforming the role of 

industrial fibers and influencing the home furnishings market with a new aesthetic in fabrics and 

textures. Her artistry as a weaver, her instinct for new trends and emerging tastes, and her business 

acumen combined to propel her to success.

8/30/2021 Completed Women No

Collections

Education

Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Guest lecture: 

“There Are No 

Amateurs in Far 

West Texas,” 

Course: “This is 

America,” Invited 

by Instructor, 

Yinshi Lerman-Tan 

Public talk with Josh Franco the National curator of AAA.

Where: Trinity University, San Antonio, TX (virtual) 

When: October 12 

Audience: 8

 Topic: US-Mexico border, queerness

10/12/2020 Completed Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Guest lecture on 

art and archives, 

Course: “Imaging 

Race: Photography, 

the Archive, and 

Boundaries of the 

Seen,” Invited by 

Instructor, Faye 

Raquel Gleisser 

Public Talk with Josh Franco

Where: Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (virtual) 

When: October 26 

Audience: 25 

Diversity topic: Latinx art

10/26/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Roundtable: 

American Art 

Archives in Britain 

Public Talk with Josh Franco

Where: Courtauld Institute (virtual) 

When: November 4 

Audience: recorded for web access 

Diversity topics: understanding Latino art as American art in British context

11/4/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

“Death and the 

Archives of 

American Art,” 

Smithsonian Latino 

Museum Studies 

Program: Alumni 

Webinar – Latinx 

Horror in Art 

Public Talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

Where: Smithsonian Latino Center (virtual) 

When: November 2 

Audience: 14 

Diversity topics: Latinx art

11/2/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Viewfinder Series: 

Ingrid Wiegand and 

Julie Finch: On Loft 

Life and SpaceMaking in the 

1970s

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

Where: Virtual

When: January 7

How Many: 360

Diversity topics: feminism in the 1970s, women's labor in art history

1/7/2021 Completed Women No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA

International 

Studio & Curatorial 

Program (ISCP): 

Field Trip with Josh 

T. Franco: National 

Collector at the 

Archives of 

American Art, 

Smithsonian 

Institution

Public talk with the National Collector, Josh Franco.

Where: Virtual

When: January 28

How Many: 15

Diversity topics: diversifying archival collections

1/28/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

U.S. Latinx Art class 

(Instructor: Rose 

Salseda), Stanford 

University: Guest 

Lecture: Latinx 

Presence in the 

Archives of 

American Art

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

Where: Virtual

When: February 8

How Many: 10

Diversity topics: Latinx art

2/8/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Social Practice class 

(Instructor: Gabo 

Camnitzer), UMass 

Dartmouth: Guest 

Lecture: 

Rasquachismo

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

Where: Virtual

When: February 23

How Many: 8

Diversity topics: Chicano art 

2/23/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Unboxed Lunch: 

Nela Arias-Misson 

Papers

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

Where: Virtual

When: February 25

How Many:75

Diversity topics: Cuban diasporic art

2/25/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Introduction to the 

Archives, guest 

lecture invited by 

Paulina Banas 

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

WHERE: MICA (virtual)

WHEN: April 20

AUDIENCE: 11

Diversity topics: diversifying archival collections 

4/20/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Collections

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA

“What DEAI Means 

for Research” 

panel, 

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

WHERE: Smithsonian Congress of Scholars (SCOS) (Virtual) 

WHEN: May 20

AUDIENCE: 100*

Diversity topics: diversifying research practices 

5/20/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Belle Ribicoff 

Seminar guest 

lecture series 

(organized by 

Ondine Chavoya)

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

WHERE: Vassar College (Virtual)

WHEN: May 21

AUDIENCE: 13

Diversity topics: Latinx art and archives

5/21/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Unboxed Lunch: 

Women & Their 

Work records

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

WHERE: virtual

WHEN: June 25

AUDIENCE: 90*

Diversity topics: feminism, women artists

6/25/2021 Completed Women No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

“Latinx Presence in 

the Archives of 

American Art,” 

Latino Museum 

Studies Program

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

WHERE: virtual

WHEN: July 9

AUDIENCE: 20

 Diversity topics: Latinx art and archives

7/9/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Unboxed Lunch: 

Dudley Huppler

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

WHERE: Virtual

WHEN: July 30

AUDIENCE: 80*

Diversity topics: LGBTQ+ 

7/30/2021 Completed LGBTQIA+ No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Guest lecture, 

Introduction to the 

Archives, Latin 

American Art 

course, University 

of Omaha

Public talk with Josh Franco, the National Collector for AAA.

WHERE: Virtual

WHEN: September 21

AUDIENCE: 10

Diversity topics: Latinx art and archives

9/21/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Collections

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

MOU Signed for 

Queer Art, Cuban 

Diasporic art

Josh Franco is Co-curating with Felix Gonzalez-Torres exhibition (Fall 2024) with Charlotte 

Ickes, NPG 3/16/2021 Completed LGBTQIA+ No

Memorandums of 

Understanding Formal

Program

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

MOU signed for 

Latinx Youth 

Movements 

Co-curating Latinx Youth Movements with Margaret Salazar-Porzio, NMAH, with support 

from SLC.

Latinx art

5/28/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Memorandums of 

Understanding Formal

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA Latinx art

Josh Franco is the Co-Founder Secretary and Membership Coordinator for US Latinx Art 

Forum (USLAF)

3/2015 - 

Ongoing

In-progress Hispanics No

Advisory Boards

Collections

Education

Exhibitions

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

What's possible 

Now? - Publication 

in the Brooklyn Rail 

- Latinx Art

Critics Page Josh T Franco - National Collector for AAA.

The Archives of American Art’s Pandemic Oral History Project is a series of 85 virtually conducted 

interviews with American artists and art world figures that documents their real-time perspectives from 

June through September of 2020. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe and many cultural 

institutions closed, artists, curators, professors, and activists shared their hopes, anxieties, and insights 

about how the seismic events of 2020 have shaped their work, new ways to engage with the public, 

and whether COVID-19 has changed the art world permanently. Throughout the interviews, there is a 

common thread: new possibilities. The responses to these new realities involved logistical, spiritual, 

civic, and other kinds of shifts. In the context of her own practice, artist Julia Santos Solomon describes 

this transformation well: So, there's that, the idea that art can succeed where politics and economics 

fail us. We have certainly lived and are living through a period of time like that. And I took it seriously, 

that it was my opportunity to do something for the community. My work tends to be very personal. 

And this speaks and it comes from personal history and emotional energy. However, in 2019, I began 

that shift. The Archives remain witness to these transformations and what they will continue to make 

possible far into the future. 

6/2021 Completed Hispanics

Women

No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Women: 

Geographic and 

generational 

diversity of board 

members

In FY21 we added two women who enhance the geographic and generational diversity of 

our board. 11/2020 Completed Women No Advisory Boards

Program

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA Advisory Board

Archives of American Art Journal Advisory Board - In FY21 Joyce Tsai and Bridget R. Cooks 

joined the advisory board or the Archives of American Art Journal. Also, Ken Gonzales-Day 

has agreed to serve a second term.

10/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Women

No Advisory Boards

Program

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Journal publication 

focused on 

feminism and 

systemic racism

Archives of American Art Journal special issue - In Spring 2021, we published a special 

issue of the Archives of American Art Journal that focused on feminism and archives and 

featured scholarly and artistic responses to the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic 

racism. It also included Ben Gillespie’s overview of the Pandemic Oral History Project for 

the issue was reprinted in Smithsonian Magazine in May, where it was featured on the 

magazine’s home page and highlighted in its daily newsletter for May 12. 

5/12/2021 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Research Associates

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Diversity and the 

Archives of 

American Art 

Journal

In FY21, an analysis of the last five years of submissions revealed a conscious editorial 

effort to showcase diversity. The data indicated that half of the journal content in the past 

five years focused on issues of diversity, specifically women, gender, and/or sexuality, and 

BIPOC topics. Previously we only tracked the geographic location and affiliation of our 

authors. In FY21, to gain a better understanding of the diversity of our author base, we 

added an optional field to our online submission form where authors can self-identify by 

gender, ethnicity, and race.

5/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No Public Programming Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Events on zoom - 

Donor cultivation 

event

On June 4, 2021, AAA hosted a special event on Zoom, with Uchenna Itam, AAA curator of 

African American Manuscripts, in conversation with Shawnya L. Harris, the Larry D. and 

Brenda A. Thompson Curator of African American and African Diasporic Art at the Georgia 

Museum of Art for a special tour of the exhibition Emma Amos: Color Odyssey and first 

look at the papers of Emma Amos. (African American, donor cultivation event) 

6/4/2021 Completed African Americans No Public Programming Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Asian American 

discussion with two 

professors at 

Stanford University

On April 28, 2021, AAA hosted a discussion with two professors at Stanford University, 

Marci Kwon and Aleesa Alexander, about the Asian American Art Initiative at Stanford. 4/28/2021 Completed Asian AmericansWomen

No

Education

Public Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

LIP Summer 

Internship

AAA's summer intern, Maribel Falcon, funded as part of a 2020 Latino Initiatives Pool 

Grant, worked on a project titled: Digital Access to Latino/a/x Archival Collections. The 

intern researched three recently digitized AAA collections: the Naul Ojeda papers, Mel 

Casas papers, and Jaime Davidovich papers, and selected over 90 folders of material from 

the collections to contribute to the SI Transcription Center. She also created 5 social media 

posts and a blog post to promote transcription by volunteers and use of the digitized 

collections by researchers. 

6/7/2021 - 

8/24/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Collections

Virtual Internships

Program

Workforce

Masters

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Asian American 

Colleagues Support

In April 2021, AAA joined our colleagues to support a statement of solidary from across the 

Smithsonian for Asian Americans and contribute to the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American 

Center resource spreadsheet. (Asian American)

4/2021 Completed Asian Americans No

Education

Public Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Exhibitions: What 

is Feminist Art?

The exhibition What is Feminist Art? in the Archives’ Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery 

(DWRC) was closed for most of the pandemic but reopened to the public in FY21. 

(Women)

3/2021 Completed Women No

Education

Exhibitions

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Panels: Queer 

Archives: The work 

of critical 

cataloguing and 

queer archival 

labor.

On May 10, 2021, Josh Franco participated in the panel, “Queer Archives: the work of 

critical cataloguing and queer archival labor,” in collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Sichel’s 

course, “Queer Theory and Queer Practice,” hosted by the Visual Resource Center of the 

University of Chicago Department of Art History.

5/10/2021 Completed LGBTQIA+ No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA Internship

AAA's summer intern, Evangeline Avila, added women-specific subject tags to 857 catalog 

records of women's archival collections. These new subject terms such as "Women 

painters", "Women sculptors", "Women designers", allow for researchers to browse and 

discover women's archives on AAA's website more easily. Her internship was from June 7-

August 10. Evangeline identifies as Latina and worked on collections about women.

6/7/2021 - 

8/10/2021 Completed HispanicsWomen

No

Collections

Virtual Internships

Program

Workforce

Masters

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Digital Initiatives: 

Women

On March 10, head of reference services Marisa Bourgoin and digital initiatives archivist 

Jess Purkis attended the UCLA/AAA Transcribe-A-Thon celebrating Women’s History 

Month. Marisa presented on relevant materials from the Archives currently being 

transcribed.

3/10/2021 Completed Women No

Education

Heritage Month Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Rayna Andrews 

Interview

On March 31, Rayna Andrews was interviewed for a forthcoming documentary on Norman 

Parish/Parish Gallery, whose papers the Archives holds. 3/31/2021 Completed African Americans No

Collections

Education

Public Programming

Program

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Panel discussion: 

'One year of 

documenting the 

Pandemic in New 

York City'

On March 31, archivist Jennifer Neal participated in The Archivists Round Table of 

Metropolitan New York’s panel, "One Year of Documenting the Pandemic in New York 

City," where she spoke about the Archives’ Pandemic Oral History Project.

3/31/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Collections

Education

Public Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

CaIRBS (California 

Rare Book School) 

discussion

On August 12, Rayna Andrews spoke to a California Rare Book School (CalRBS) course 

about the Henry Luce Foundation African American Collecting Initiative and her role as 

processing archivist.

8/12/2021 Completed African Americans No

Collections

Education

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Digital Initiatives: 

National Hispanic 

Heritage Month

On September 17, digital initiatives archivist Jess Purkis helped coordinate the 

transcription projects for a virtual National Hispanic Heritage Month transcribe-a-thon 

with the Transcription Center and their sponsor Ally. 

9/17/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Collections

Education

Heritage Month Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Teacher workshops 

on zoom

From August 6 to September 24, AAA held four teacher workshops on Zoom for teaching 

the history of American art with primary sources. The purpose of these workshops, funded 

by the Dedalus Foundation, was to expand traditional art-historical narratives by focusing 

on archival records of underrepresented artists and arts organizations and encourage the 

use of the Archives of American Art’s online resources in undergraduate and graduate 

school curricula. (Latino, Asian American, African American, LGBTQ+, and women.)

8/6/2021 - 

9/24/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Education

Public Programming

Teacher Workshops

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Publication: Rayna 

Andrews 

"Redescribing 

African American 

Collections at the 

Archives of 

American Art"

Rayna Andrews, "Redescribing African American Collections at the Archives of American 

Art," Acid Free, 12 (December 2020). 12/2020 Completed African AmericansWomen

No

Education

Public Programming

Program

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Women's History 

Month in March 

2021

The Archives launched several projects for Women’s History Month in March 2021, 

including 21 folders of material from the Woman’s Building Records. Among the many 

documents transcribed and described was a photograph, taken from the 1975 "Women in 

Design: the Next Decade" Conference materials. (women)

3/2021 Completed Women No

Heritage Month Programming

Public Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

New archival 

collections 

From October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, of the 45 collections we acquired, 15 

support research on women, Latino, and African American artists. 

10/1/2020 - 

9/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Hispanics

Women

No

Collections

Education

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Collections 

digitized and 

uploaded to AAA 

website

From October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, we digitized and uploaded to our website 

eight archival collections including the papers of Dorothy Liebes, Naul Ojeda, Betty 

Parsons, Toshiko Takaezu, Charles and Frances White letters, and Charles White papers. 

10/1/2020 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Collections

Education

Public Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Oral History 

transcripts for 

women

From October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, added more than 100 searchable oral 

history transcripts to the AAA website representing Latino, Asian American, African 

American, Native American, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and women. 

10/1/2020 - 

Ongoing 

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No

Collections

Education

Public Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Finding aides 

deployed on the 

web

From October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, added more than 50 searchable finding aids 

to the AAA website representing Latino, Asian American, African American, Native 

American, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and women.

10/1/2020 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No

Collections

Education

Public Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

African American 

collecting initiative

In mid-November, Uchenna Itam, joined the Archives on contract as curator of African 

American manuscripts for AAA’s African American collecting initiative funded by the Luce 

Foundation. (African American)

11/2020 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Education

Employee Affinity Groups

Recruitment

Program

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Internship Program 

Initiative - 

In December 2020, the Archives of American Art, along with the Met, the Frick, CASVA, 

and Winterthur, hosted a month-long, professional development internship program 

sponsored by the Association of Research Institutes in Art History for BIPOC and other 

underrepresented intern candidates. Twenty Interns from all over the country were 

selected from nearly 1,000 applicants for the virtual internship, which provided weeklong 

sessions at four participating institutions. At the AAA, interns researched New Deal oral 

histories and contributed excellent ideas and clips for our upcoming podcast series, for 

which they will receive published credit. (Latino, Asian American, African American, 

Native American, LGBTQ+, individuals with disabilities, and women.) 

12/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No

Career Counseling

Education

Internships

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

MOU with 

Smithsonian Latino 

Center

In September 2021, AAA entered into an MOU with Smithsonian Latino Center to support 

a Latino Archivist/Curatorial Assistant position at AAA. (Latino) 9/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Memorandums of 

Understanding Formal

Recruitment

Program

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA

Lunder Institute 

Talk 

On March 18, interim director Liza Kirwin and Ben Gillespie joined artist Wendy Red Star 

for a “Lunder Institute Talk,” a virtual conversation hosted by the Lunder Institute for 

American Art, Colby College Museum of Art, that focused on the Archives’ Pandemic Oral 

History Project.

3/18/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture AAA AWHI Internship Intern worked on AAA's podcast and processing oral histories of underrepresented women artists. 

6/2021 - 8/2021 Completed

Asian Americans

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Collections

Virtual Internships

Virtual Programming

Program

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture AAA AAA Podcast

Season 1 Episode 3: Issues of Labor and Equity - The episode details hurdles that women 

and people of color encountered while working on the New Deal arts initiatives and how 

those issues intersected with broader ongoing social issues. 

9/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Collections

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAfA Africa for Kids

Instructor Egbuna Obi led a Zoom-Webinar on the intersection of African History and 

STEAM is designed to facilitate an understanding of the African experience and relate it to 

present-day landscape and occurrences in the USA. We utilize STEAM to foster integrative 

experiences for learning through: Creative art activities, language arts, mathematics, 

technology & science; reflective exercises that promote independent thought and critical 

thinking skills; information that provides an expanded perspective of the African 

experience beyond enslavement and informs about significant contributions; fostering 

teamwork and collaboration through small group activities, and; promoting cultural 

exploration that facilitates the development of positive self-identity.

FY 2020 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAfA Circus without Borders

Director Susan Gray, producer Linda Matchan, and acrobats Guillaume Saladin and 

Yamoussa Bangoura participated in a Q&A before the screening of Circus without Borders, 

a documentary about world-class acrobats Saladin and Bangoura.

FY 2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAAHC

Classroom STEM 

programs

The Museum’s STEM educator programs empower 3rd-12th grade teachers to confidently 

lead their students through STEM principles and practices, while using stories grounded in 

African American achievement. Our student programs provide visitors opportunities to 

engage in hands-on activities, learn about STEM careers, and explore African American 

contributions to history and STEM. 

FY 2020 - 

Ongoing 

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

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Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAAHC STEM Day

To help celebrate National Engineering Week, NMAAHC will highlight the long lineage of 

African American engineers. From the earliest people of African descent using their 

knowledge of rice cultivation to the newest generation of technology prodigies and 

inventors, the contributions of African Americans to the nation’s prosperity, history and 

culture are significant. This program will introduce our visitors to the world of engineering 

and share how African Americans have shaped and influenced the world.

02/22/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAAHC

Through the 

Window and Into 

the Mirror: A 

Career 

Conversation Series 

NMAAHC invited middle and high school students to join the museum to explore careers 

in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through the Window and 

into the Mirror is a video conversation series about the experiences of African American 

STEM professionals today. Students will peer into the ‘windows’ of the speakers’ lives, 

learn from their lived experiences as STEM professionals, and find parts of their culture 

and lifestyle ‘mirrored’ in the speakers’ lessons of their youth and greatest challenges and 

accomplishments. Through the Window and into the Mirror aims to inform, inspire, and 

be a starting point for students as they take steps towards having careers in STEM.

02/26/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAAHC

STEM Teacher 

Fellowship

NMAAHC's STEM Teacher Fellowship provides an opportunity for a K-12 STEM teacher to 

work with museum staff offsite throughout the school year, on-site during the selected 

teacher’s spring break, and during a two-month period over the summer in Washington, 

DC. Travel and lodging will be covered, and a monthly housing stipend will be provided for 

the time spent in Washington, DC.

FY 2020 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Fellowships Program

College/University

Masters

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Spotlight on the 

American Scene: 

Social Justice on 

Film

Live virtual panel to discuss the relationship between film and social change, the 

connection between entertainment and activism, and the history of how storytelling can 

make a difference. 

11/20/2020 Completed African Americans

Women

No Virtual Programming Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Spotlight on the 

American Scene: 

Women in 

Entertainment

Live virtual panel conversation with trailblazing women in entertainment in celebration of 

Women's History Month. 03/31/2021 Planned Women No Virtual Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

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Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Increasing 

Supplier/Vendor 

Diversity for NMAH 

Special Events

NMAH has expanded upon its list of diverse vendors for catering and related services 

needed for special events. NMAH has worked with these vendors:

BYT (Girlhood opening) - woman-owned business

Ridgewells (Winter Board boxed catering) – woman-owned business

Design Foundry (Food Gala) – woman-owned business

Linder + Associates (subcontracted through Design Foundry) – woman-owned and LGBTQowned business

DCPV360/Pepe Gomez (Girlhood tour) – minority-owned business 

Well Dunn (Spring Board boxed catering) – LGBTQ-owned business

10/1/2021 - 

5/14/2021 In-progress

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Advisory Boards

Exhibitions

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Virtual Programming

Supplier

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Lemelson Center 

New Perspectives 

symposium

"The Lemelson Center’s annual symposium series, “New Perspectives on Invention and 

Innovation,” was established in 1995 to explore historical and contemporary issues 

regarding invention and innovation in our society. 

Our 2020 New Perspectives symposium (Title: Black Inventors and Innovators: New 

Perspectives) explored the latest scholarship on African American inventors, with a focus 

on identifying key questions for future research as well as insights and perspectives on 

opportunities for public history, exhibitions, and educational materials. 

https://invention.si.edu/black-inventors-and-innovators-new-perspectives

PDF conf report to be completed June 2021."

11/16/2020 - 

11/20/2020 Completed African Americans Yes

Conferences w/Colleges or 

Universities

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Lemelson Center 

Fellowship 

Programs

The Lemelson Center offers travel grants and fellowships to encourage scholars to develop 

research projects on the history of American invention, innovation, and technology that 

draw upon NMAH-SI collections.

Ongoing In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Individuals with Disabilities

Women

No Fellowships

Program

Workforce

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Becoming US

Becoming US is a new educational resource for high school teachers and students to learn 

immigration and migration history in a more accurate and inclusive way. In the Fall of 2020 

the project will be translated into Spanish. Fall 2019 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Yes Education Program High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Social Studies 

Online

In response to the COVID Pandemic and schools closing, NMAH educators started a series 

of weekly webcasts. The programs feature social studies experts from around the 

Smithsonian who explore a thematic question connecting to most school curricula. The 

program will run through June and pick up again in September. A sister version of the 

series was offered in Spanish language .

4/2020 - 

Present

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Latinx and Spanish Speakers

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAH K12 En Espanol The NMAH Education team also worked with bilingual NMAH staff to present resources in Spanish.

4/2020 - 

Present

In-progress

Hispanics

Latinx

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

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Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Stories of 2020

Digital story collecting initiative collecting stories of Americans living during the COVID-19 

pandemic with a special outreach emphasis on collecting the stories of under resourced 

and hard-hit communities.

12/2020 - 

4/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities No Collections Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Heritage Month 

Campaigns

Month long campaigns highlighting content of diverse communities in American history, 

often with signature strategic pushes to further promote. (Black History Month, Women's 

History Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, 

Pride, Hispanic Heritage Month, American Indian Heritage Month)

2/2021

3/2021

5/2021

6/2021

9/2021

10/2021

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Education

Heritage Month Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Daily Social Media 

Storytelling

We prioritize sharing stories of diverse Americans, being inclusive in our representation of 

major events, being inclusive in how we tell stories (using best practices of accessibility 

and an inclusion glossary), and promoting hiring. Examples include: 1) Leading the field, 

providing resources to reflect on the history of all Americans at major national 

anniversaries 2) Spotlighting major historical events that principally affected 

underrepresented communities. 

Daily In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Virtual Programming Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Museum Blog

Prioritize blog posts that tell stories of underrepresented communities. (Represents 

approximately 50% of the posts published in the last year). One highlight from 2020 would 

be the special, seven-part series, "Black Life in Two Pandemics: Histories of Violence."

Ongoing In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Virtual Programming Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Mass Action 

Reading Group

The Mass Action Reading Group is reoccurring meeting for NMAH staff members to meet, 

discuss, and read the Mass Action Toolkit (https://www.museumaction.org/resources). 

The Toolkit is a "comprehensive guide outlines the theory and tools for practice towards 

creating greater equity within the museum field." The Reading Group is an activity of 

NMAH's IDEA Council. 

10/2019 - 

Present

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Training

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Website 

accessibility Apply updates to older websites to address accessibility deficiencies. Ongoing In-progress Individuals with Disabilities No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Latinas Talk Latinas

This series introduces you to the lives of 10 Latinas, as told by curators, scientists, and 

educators across the Smithsonian. Join them as they explore stories of labor organizing, 

fashion, music, science exploration, performance, and art that have shaped the United 

States. The Latinas Talk Latinas series is accompanied by digital educational resources that 

enhance learning about the featured women.

Ongoing In-progress

Hispanics

Women

Latinx

No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Innovative Lives: 

Quickie Wheelchair 

inventor Marilyn 

Hamilton

"Marilyn Hamilton, co-inventor of the Quickie Wheelchair, spoke with National Museum of 

American History (NMAH) curator Katherine Ott about her life as an athlete and inventor. 

Following a hang-gliding accident in 1978, she worked with two friends to adapt hangglider materials to invent a lightweight, easy-to-maneuver wheelchair, which she then 

used to play championship wheelchair tennis. Hamilton co-founded Motion Designs to 

manufacture the wheelchairs, sold today under the brand name Quickie."

4/14/2021 Completed Individuals with Disabilities Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Innovative Lives: 

Uncharted Power

This program featured Nigerian-American inventor, CEO, and venture capitalist Jessica O. 

Matthews. Matthews’ work is at the intersection of disruptive technology, renewable 

energy, and human behavior. She is the co-founder of Uncharted Power, and inventor of 

Soccket, a soccer ball that harnesses the kinetic energy of the ball during normal game 

play and stores it for later use. During the live program, Matthews shared stories about 

her background, inspirations, and inventions leading to 12 patents, starting with her first 

invention at the age of 19.

2/10/2021 Completed African Americans Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Smithsonian Jazz 

"Women In Jazz 

Initiative"

Historical look, research, and annual public awareness of women's contribution in jazz. April 2019 - 

Present

In-progress Women No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Internships

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Smithsonian Jazz - 

Jazz Appreciation 

Month

Distribution of 51,000 posters through the National Association for Music Education, US 

Department of Educations, US Department of State, Conference of Mayors, musicians, and 

fans.

2001 - Present In-progress

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH See Me

Small group programs for people with Alzheimer's and dementia and their care partners. 

Work with Access SI on these programs. 2019 - Present In-progress Individuals with Disabilities No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH See Me en Espanol Small group programs for people with Alzheimer's and dementia and their care partners, conducted completely in Spanish. Access SI manages this program. 2019 - Present In-progress

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Visual Description 

for the 

"Entertainment 

Nation" exhibition, 

opening October 

2022

In a first for NMAH, we will be providing visual descriptions for all the exhibition’s media. 

Of special note—and with support from Smithsonian Accessibility Innovation Fund—we 

are developing strategies for describing large-scale, immersive media experiences that 

have multiple images on multiple display surfaces in multiple locations simultaneously. 

Expert users will play a key role in developing descriptions, user interfaces, and navigation 

strategies.

2021 – 2022 In-progress

Individuals with Disabilities

Indivduals with Low Vision

Individuals Who are Blind

No Accessibility feature for exhibition Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

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Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Tell Me What 

Democracy Looks 

Like 

Taking a cue from the popular protest call-and-response—"Show me what democracy 

looks like! This is what democracy looks like!"—this site explores what democracy looks 

like from the perspectives of five organizers working in today's undocumented movement. 

Through their stories, these organizers invite us to look beyond the headlines and the 

issues often associated with undocumented immigrants, from DACA (Deferred Action for 

Childhood Arrivals) to the DREAMers. In the process, they stretch our imagination by 

offering fresh approaches to familiar topics such as community, citizenship, belonging, and 

even identity itself.

Ongoing In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH AWHI Ford Videos

Four part video series that centers contributions of Black, Indigenous, and women of color 

(BIPOC) by choosing related objects in our collections. This is for middle and high school 

students. We are contracting with a local Black owned vendor for the video production. 

5/2021 - 7/2021 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

BIPOC Women

No

Education

Public Programming

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Excel Academy 

Partnership

Local partnership with an all-girls K-8 school in Ward 8. We meet after school with a group 

of young women who learn computer literacy and local women's history by working in 

Learning Lab and building off Girlhood: It's Complicated. The young women are making 

one learning lab collection per Girlhood theme with issues relevant to their lived 

experiences. They are also creating a tutorial video for other young people who are 

interested in learning how to use learning lab.

Fall 2019 - 

9/2021 In-progress

African Americans

LGBTQIA+

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Public Programming

Program Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Day of 

Remembrance - 

FACEism: A panel 

discussion of 

history and 

accountability

"February 19 is the Day of Remembrance, the annual recognition of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 

signing of Executive Order 9066 and the subsequent incarceration of nearly 120,000 people of Japanese 

descent living mostly in Washington, Oregon, and California. To commemorate the thousands of people 

affected by this human rights abuse, our discussion this year features news anchor and filmmaker David 

Ono and his documentary series FACEism, which examines how racism is rooted in often ignored and 

painful histories. FACEism: ""FACEism is when we make quick, often unfair, judgments about people we 

don't even know, ignoring the fact there is so much more behind their face.""

Panelists will consider two episodes from the documentary series and explore how community activists’ 

further discussions about history, accountability, and injustice in our past, present, and future.

Modupe Labode (Moderator), Curator and Public Historian, Smithsonian, National Museum of American 

History. Panelists: David Ono, Anchor for ABC7 Eyewitness News Los Angeles, CA; Ann Burroughs, 

President and CEO, Japanese American National Museum; Cheyenne Cheng, Norman Y. Mineta Fellow 

for the Japanese American Citizens League; and Matthew Weisbly, Daniel K. Inouye Fellow for the 

Japanese American Citizens League."

2019 - Feb 2021 Completed Asian Americans No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Beyond the Pilipino 

Cultural Night 

panel

Theodore S. Gonzalves appeared on a panel titled “Beyond the Pilipino Cultural Night,” 

produced by the San Francisco-based cultural organization, Undiscovered; October 17 10/2020 Completed Asian AmericansNative Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders No

Education

Public Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH OHA Panel

Fath Davis Ruffins chaired a panel for the Oral History Association 2020 Conference 

(virtual). The topic: Narratives of Women and other Marginalized Groups: Voices from 

Nigeria, Uganda, and Rwanda on October 20th

10/20/2020 Completed

African Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH OHA Panel

Fath Davis Ruffins participated in a panel for the Oral History Association 2020 Conference 

(virtual) on Understanding the Evolving Roles of Women at the Smithsonian: Race, 

Gender, and Excellence. Her presentation (with power point) was on: Poetics and Politics 

of Institutional/Oppositional Histories at the Smithsonian. On October 21st.

10/21/2020 Completed Women Yes

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

SI Affiliate 

HoustonFirst 

“Cultural 

Conversations” 

Magdalena Mieri joined Smithsonian Affiliate HoustonFirst in their “Cultural 

Conversations” series focused on Hispanic Heritage Month. 10/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Heritage Month Programming

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Pleibol 

programming

On October 14th, Margie Salazar-Porzio and the Pleibol team partnered with the 

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Smithsonian Affiliate, to produce a virtual 

program discussing the Pleibol book and Latinas/os/xs in baseball. 

10/14/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Education

Exhibitions

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

APAC Program 

“Heritage, in Real 

Life"

Theodore S. Gonzalves assisted in the production of a public program, “Heritage, in Real 

Life,” by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program, featuring poets Monique 

Truong and Rick Barot; October 15

10/15/2020 Completed

Asian Americans

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

"2020 JACSC 

Education 

Conference: 

Connecting, 

Empowering, & 

Transforming Our 

Communities.” 

Noriko Sanefuji served as a Conference Committee co-chair for the “2020 JACSC Education 

Conference: Connecting, Empowering, & Transforming Our Communities.” The Japanese 

American Confinement Sites Consortium (JACSC) conference took place on October 16th18th which was the first education conference, held virtually. We have over 30 speakers 

and 25 partner organizations. 

10/2020 Completed Asian Americans No

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Girlhood (It’s 

Complicated) Girlhood (It’s Complicated) opened October 9, 2020 10/9/2020 Completed Women No Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

“Finding a Voice 

without the Vote: 

18th Century.” 

Panel

On October 29, Amanda Moniz is speaking about eighteenth-century women’s and African 

Americans’ philanthropy on a panel organized by the Boston organization Revolutionary 

Spaces on “Finding a Voice without the Vote: 18th Century.”

10/29/2020 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

NMAH’s Social 

Studies Online 

program

Katherine Ott spoke to students about LGBTQ+ history as part of NMAH’s Social Studies 

Online program 10/2020 Completed LGBTQIA+ No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

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Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Craft and 

Kwentuhan 

program

Online Public Program: Theodore S. Gonzalves produced a live, Web-based program titled 

“Craft and Kwentuhan”* featuring Malaka Gharib and Angel Trazo. The two acclaimed 

Filipino American authors and visual artists engaged in a dialogue concerning their 

creative processes and ethnic heritage and led a ‘zine-making workshop. The event was 

broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube, drew audience members throughout the United 

States and the Philippines, and was produced with the assistance of staff from the 

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Center for Folklife and Cultural 

Heritage. The event was generously funded by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American 

Initiatives Pool. [*Kwentuhan is Tagalog for chit-chat. Tagalog is the United States’ fourth 

most commonly spoken language.]

11/2020 Completed Asian Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders No Virtual Programming Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Museum Live 

program

Crystal Moten gave a presentation about Black female entrepreneurs for the Durham 

Museum’s “Museum Live” virtual Monday morning program on December 7th. The 

Durham Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate in Durham NE, hosts the “Museum Live” 

program for local elementary school students. 

12/7/2020 Completed African Americans

Women

No Virtual Programming Program Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

What Happens 

Next? panel

Lisa Kathleen Graddy was the moderator for “What Happens Next? The 19th Amendment 

and its Lasting Impact” with panelists Secretary Barbara Franklin, Mayor Muriel Bowser, 

Representative Doris Matsui, and NMAH Director Anthea Hartig. The panel was part of 

the Smithsonian Insider series, 3 December.

12/3/2020 Completed Women No Virtual Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

¡Pleibol! launches 

the traveling show

¡Pleibol! launches the traveling show January 23 at The Castle Museum of Saginaw County 

History in Saginaw, Michigan. It will be up until April and then will travel to Colorado and a 

number of other sites throughout the nation through 2025. 

1/23/2021 In-progress Hispanics No Exhibitions Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Online mentoring 

program, 

“Developing 

Networks for 

Minority Scholars”

Theodore S. Gonzalves was the featured speaker in an online mentoring program, 

“Developing Networks for Minority Scholars,” at Pennsylvania State University. Number of 

attendees: 20.

1/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Career Counseling Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Day of 

Remembrance 

virtual panel

On Feb 18, Noriko Sanefuji participated in Day of Remembrance virtual panel discussion 

organized by Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation (HMWF) along with Clement Hanami 

of JANM, Erin Aoyama of Brown University PhD student, Shirley Higuchi, Chairperson of 

HMWF and Takashi Hoshizaki, camp survivor. 

2/18/2021 Completed Asian Americans No Virtual Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Lecture on Woman 

Suffrage Lisa Kathleen Graddy gave a talk on woman suffrage to members of the Metropolitan Club 2/2021 Completed Women No Virtual Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Guest Speaker

On February 20, Crystal Moten was guest speaker for the DC Metro Region of Federally 

Employed Women (FEW) Black History Month celebration. Her talk was entitled, 

“Determined to Fight: The Welfare Rights Movement in the US”

2/20/2021 Completed African Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities No Education Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Guest Speaker

On February 24, Crystal Moten was guest speaker for the National Geospace Intelligence 

Agency. Her talk was entitled, “On the Shoulders of Many: Exploring Black Political 

Herstory in the US Midwest and West”

2/24/2021 Completed African Americans No Education Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Black History 

Month Conference 

and College Fair

On February 27, Crystal Moten was a presenter at the Black History Month Conference 

and College Fair. She spoke about Women in Politics. 2/27/2021 Completed Women No Education Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

FOOD- Black 

History Monthly 

Programming

On February 1, Ashley Rose Young did a 6-minute video segment for Fox 5 Washington 

D.C.’s Black History Month programming. She spoke about Chef Lena Richard, “The Only 

One in the Room” highlights case in American Enterprise that features Richard’s story, and 

also mentioned the upcoming “Cooking Up History” program about Richard.

2/1/2021 Completed African Americans No Heritage Month Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Virtual 

presentation about 

“Creating Icons” 

Lisa Kathleen Graddy gave a virtual presentation about “Creating Icons” and the American 

suffrage movement on March 17th for the Tampa Bay History Center, an affiliate in 

Florida. 

3/17/2021 Completed Women No Exhibitions Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Guest speaker

Lisa Kathleen Graddy gave a talk on suffrage and women’s activism for the Department of 

Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Civil Rights for 

their internal Women’s History Month observances

3/2021 Completed Women Yes Heritage Month Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Virtual tour of 

Creating Icons: 

How We 

Remember Woman 

Suffrage 

Lisa Kathleen Graddy gave a virtual tour of Creating Icons: How We Remember Woman 

Suffrage the talk on suffrage and women’s activism for Accenture’s women’s leadership 

group as part of their Women’s History Month observations, 

3/2021 Completed Women No

Exhibitions

Heritage Month Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

White House 

Women's History 

Display

In March, the White House invited NMAH to make a mini-exhibition in its Center Hall, to 

honor Women’s History Month. NMAH quickly selected several objects, wrote labels, 

created mounts, oversaw installation, and then worked with the Department of Education 

to create online “Learning Labs” that shared the content with teachers and students across 

the country. Highlights from the display included the U.S. Army Women’s Army Corps 

summer service overseas cap worn by Alice Tetsuko Kono (1944-1946); the Clio Award 

given to Sara Sunshine in 1987, the first awarded to a Latino-owned advertising agency; 

and a dictionary from the National Training School for Women and Girls, a Washington, 

D.C.-based school that Nannie Helen Burroughs founded in 1909 to educate young African 

American women. 

3/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Exhibitions

Heritage Month Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Lena Richard and 

Julia Child: Two 

Women Who 

Changed Culinary 

History” program

Paula Johnson and Ashley Rose Young were guest speakers for the event “Lena Richard 

and Julia Child: Two Women Who Changed Culinary History” on March 10 as part of the 

Smithsonian Associates’ American Women’s History Initiative Series.

5/2021 Completed Women No

Heritage Month Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

“Girlhood (It’s 

complicated): An 

Exhibition 

Exploring the 

Politics of 

Girlhood” article

Kathleen Franz with Nancy Bercaw, Kenneth Cohen, Mireya Loza and Sam Vong, “Girlhood 

(It’s complicated): An Exhibition Exploring the Politics of Girlhood” The Public Historian 

(2021) 43 (1): 138–163. https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2021.43.1.138

4/2021 Completed Women No Publication Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

 Pleibol and LatinAmerican history 

presentation

On April 15th, Robin Morey gave a short talk about Pleibol and Latin-American history for 

the Durham Museum’s Family Day program. Robin presented in both Spanish and English. 4/15/2021 Completed Hispanics Yes Virtual Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

White House Asian 

American and 

Native 

Hawaiian/Pacific 

Islander Heritage 

Month display

In May, the White House invited NMAH and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American 

Center to make a mini-exhibition in its Center Hall, to honor Asian American and Native 

Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month. NMAH quickly selected several objects, edited 

labels, created mounts, oversaw installation, and then worked with the Department of 

Education to create online “Learning Labs” to share the content across several social 

media platforms. Highlights from the display include Private First Class Joes M. Nishimoto’s 

Medal of Honor; Stella Abrera’s ballet shoes; Balbir Singh Sodhi’s turban; campaign 

materials from Representative Patsy Mink; and Kristi Yamaguchi’s figure skates. 

4/2021 Completed

Asian Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No

Exhibitions;#Heritage Month 

Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

NMAH Social 

Studies Online

Sam Vong participated in a 30-minute recording for Social Studies Online for AAPI Heritage 

Month hosted by Orlando Serrano for OAE. He discussed the history of three objects: 

Balbir Sodhi Singh’s turban, shoes from Virginia Lee Mead collection, and Judi Oyama’s 

helmet. The target audience was 8-12 graders. 

5/2021 Completed Asian Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders No

Heritage Month Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

We Are American 

and We Stand 

Together: Asian 

American 

Resilience and 

Belonging" panel

Sam Vong participated in a panel with Daniel Inoue and Theo Gonzalves for “We Are 

American and We Stand Together: Asian American Resilience and Belonging,” a 90-minute 

presentation hosted by NMAH and APAC and produced by MSNBC’s Richard Lui. 

5/2021 Completed Asian Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders No Virtual Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

The Power of 

Giving: 

Philanthropy's 

Impact on 

Educational Equity

The Philanthropy Initiative's fifth annual Power of Giving symposium brought historic 

perspectives to contemporary conversations about educational equity and the role of 

philanthropy. In this virtual program, Smithsonian historians joined thought leaders in 

education and philanthropy to discuss topics such as K-12 education; African American 

educational philanthropy; and funding opportunity and resilience at HBCUs, Hispanic 

Speaking Institutions, and community colleges. SI Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, SI Regent 

Steve Case, former Secretary of Education Dr. John B. King Jr., and the presidents of 

Morehouse, Bennett, and Miami-Dade Colleges were among the 16 featured speakers. 

11/10/2020 - 

11/12/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No Public Programming Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Stories of Black 

Philanthropy: 

Treasures from the 

National Museum 

of American History

In celebration of Black Philanthropy Month, NMAH's Philanthropy Initiative hosted a 

virtual program inviting the public to go behind the scenes to learn what curators and 

research interns are discovering in the collections as part of its new History of African 

American Fundraising Collecting Initiative. Attendees learned how these objects and 

others tell the long and complex history of Black giving. Since the nation’s beginning, 

African Americans have been philanthropists, supporting communities and advocating for 

social justice. As fundraisers, they have mobilized philanthropic resources of time, money, 

and testimony and played an integral role in shaping American fundraising practices while 

facing hostility toward independent Black institution-building and systemic racism’s 

constraints on wealth accumulation. African American interns also spoke about their 

experiences researching the objects as part of the museum's work to help educate the 

next generation of museum curators.

8/21/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No Public Programming Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Latino History Hub Updated the webpage's Latino History Hub with current information and translated page and subpages into Spanish for language accessibility. 9/2021 Completed Hispanics No Website Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Pleibol! and Selena 

Spanish language 

press releases

Pleibol: https://americanhistory.si.edu/node/49215

Selena: https://americanhistory.si.edu/press/releases/se-conmemora-el-50%C2%B0-

cumplea%C3%B1os-de-selena-por-medio-de-una-adquisici%C3%B3n-de-fotos-de-la 

4/2021 - 7/2021 Completed Hispanics

Women

No

Collections

Exhibitions

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

African American 

Curatorial 

Collective press 

release

https://americanhistory.si.edu/press/releases/african-american-history-curatorialcollective-founded-national-museum-american 8/2021 Completed African Americans Yes

Collections

Digital Promotion of Academic 

Appointments

Employee Affinity Groups

Workforce PhD

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Advertising to 

diverse 

communities

Placed Girlhood advertisements in the Washington Blade, targeted Pleibol advertisements 

to urban Latino communities, ran digital media campaigns focused on New York's 

Chinatown and Latina/o communities who might find programming and exhibitions of 

interest

6/2021 - 9/2021 Completed

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Collections

Education

Exhibitions

Virtual Programming

Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

A Juneteenth 

Conversation

Curator Fath Ruffins was asked to be part of a General Motors hosted panel to discuss the 

history and impact of Juneteenth for the African American community. This panel served 

the General Motors employee base around the world. 

6/18/2021 Completed African Americans No

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Education

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

White House 

exhibition for 

PRIDE Month 2021

In June, the White House invited NMAH to make mini-exhibition in its Center Hall, to 

honor PRIDE Month. NMAH quickly selected several objects, edited labels, created 

mounts, oversaw installation, and then worked with the Department of Education to 

create online “Learning Labs” to share the content across several social media platforms. 

The themes of the display focused on Matthew Shepard; Harvey Milk; Achieving Equality; 

Pride Celebrations, Activism; the Stonewall Uprising; and the AIDS Epidemic

6/2021 Completed LGBTQIA+ No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

White House 

National Hispanic 

Heritage Month 

Exhibition 

White House National Hispanic Heritage Month Display: In September the Smithsonian’s 

National Museum of American History and the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage 

and the White House presented an exhibit celebrating the cultures and contributions of 

the Latin American community. NMAH provide objects for two display cases: Celia Cruz 

and Salsa and Baseball. NMAH objects featured in these cases included Custom-made, 

gold vinyl platform shoes worn by Celia Cruz; Sketch of Celia Cruz in gown designed by 

Narciso Rodriguez; Baseball signed by the 1960 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates; 

1964 Topps Collectible Coin featuring All Star MLB player Juan Marichal; Autographed 

Baseball Glove used by Mariano Rivera in 2007; and Anthony Rendon’s childhood Baseball 

Glove.

9/2021 -

10/2021 In-Progress Hispanics No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

“Pandemic 

Perspectives” 

colloquium series 

The NMAH Tuesday Colloquium is a weekly series of research-based lectures given by SI 

staff, fellows, and occasional non-SI speakers. Virtual offerings this year included a number 

of presentations devoted to minority history, especially African American history, and 

women's history. The audience is primarily Smithsonian staff, although a mailing list for 

non-Smithsonian colleagues includes scholars from the Washington region and elsewhere, 

as well as members of the public who have requested admission to the email group. On 

Dec. 1, 2020: Alexandra Lord and others presented “Pandemic Perspectives: Public History 

During a Pandemic: Collecting COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter.” On Feb. 2, 2021: 

Alexandra Lord and others presented “Pandemic Perspectives - Race and Place: Yellow 

Fever and the Free African Society in Philadelphia.”

12/1/2020 - 

2/2/2021 Completed African Americans No Public Programming Program

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

GPEP Alumni 

Internship Program

In collaboration with the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP), NMAH has 

developed a unique internship program for formerly incarcerated scholars who 

participated in GPEP during their incarceration. During its first year, the program has 

hosted 5 year-long internships through which GPEP Alumni Interns have had professional 

learning experiences in fields that interest them across the museum. Interns are supported 

through livable stipends, mentor coaching and support, supplemental internship 

workshops, ongoing evaluation, supplemental inclusive background investigation 

procedures, and one-on-one support with seeking out professional opportunities for the 

future. For FY22, we will host two GPEP Alumni Internships.

9/2020 - 

12/2021 Completed

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Individuals who were Formerly Incarcerated

No

Career Counseling

Internships

Virtual Internships

Program

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Equitable Stipend 

Request Process for 

Interns

Starting in Fall 2020, the NMAH Internship Program has provided stipends to our interns. 

The minimum amount is a total of $500 per intern to defray technology costs for a virtual 

internship or commuting costs for an in-person internship. In addition to that, after being 

selected, interns are invited to apply for equitable stipend funding based on self-disclosed 

financial need. This allows us to engage in the true nature of equity--providing what 

individuals need--by providing the opportunity for interns to have access to the funds they 

might need for housing, food, additional technology, travel to and from DC (if applicable), 

healthcare, and childcare as needed. Thus far, we have been able to provide 100% of our 

interns' requested stipends.

FY 2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities No

Internships

Virtual Internships

Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Virtual Internships 

at NMAH

Throughout FY21, the NMAH Internship Program has bolstered its capacity for virtual 

internships, including providing internship mentor training and coaching, increasing 

technology training for interns, broadening the scope of internship projects using digital 

programming and collections, and expanding professional development experiences 

overall. Through our internship program evaluation, we have confirmation that providing 

increased opportunities for virtual internships has increased inclusion for different 

communities across the country, increasing diversity of our program and our museum 

community, including for parents and caregivers, people with chronic illness and 

disabilities, current students, and people who otherwise wouldn't feel comfortable moving 

to DC away from their support networks.

FY 2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Rural Communities

No Virtual Internships Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

IDEA Council 

Bulletin

Starting in September 2020, the IDEA Council Bulletin is a monthly newsletter sent out to 

all NMAH staff and affiliates including helpful resources, tips, and a staff spotlight. Each 

bulletin usually focuses on topics that are relevant for a particular month; for example, we 

sent out inclusive holiday celebration tips in December 2020, mental health resources in 

March 2021 for the anniversary of the pandemic hitting DC, and web accessibility 

guidelines in July 2021 in celebration of the ADA's 31st anniversary. The purpose of the 

bulletin is increasing NMAH's internal capacity and understanding of inclusion, diversity, 

equity, and accessibility and fostering a more reflective and inclusive museum community.

9/2021 - 

Present

Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Heritage Month Programming

Training

Internal resource sharing

Workforce Other Programming for Adults

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

AHWI Suffrage 

Video

Funded by an AWHI grant, this project was intended to be an adaptation of our existing 

theater program Votes for Women. Due to Covid cancellations of in-person programming, 

it pivoted to a digital product. This 10 minute video will explore our role in shaping public 

memory and commemorating America's complex history. It centers on the underrecognized role and contributions of African American women in the American Woman 

Suffrage Movement. 

9/2021 - 

12/2021 In-progress

African Americans

Women

No

Education

Heritage Month Programming

Public Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Historytime

Historytime is an object-based educational video series for early learners (ages 3-6). Each 5-

10 minute video explores an object or group of objects and aligns them with curricular 

themes appropriate for the target audience. Season 1 of the series was released between 

September 2020 and May 2021 and included 16 videos. Season 2 launched in September 

of 2021 and the 10 videos in this season will focus on the stories of BIPOC women.

9/2020 - 

Present

In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Education

Public Programming

Program Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Visual Descriptions 

of NMAH 

Collections

Grassroots efforts by staff to generate visual descriptions for all collection objects. The 

effort began with a pilot phase in 2018 during which highlight descriptions for 12 major 

exhibitions were completed and posted on the museum's website for public access. The 

effort resumed in April of 2021 when writing descriptions was presented as a museumwide opportunity for completing staff service hours. New additions from this phase have 

grown the description pool by about 50% so far.

5/2018 - 

Present

In-progress Individuals with Disabilities No Public Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

The Long Battle: 

The Work of 

Preserving Emmett 

Till's Memory 

public program.

This program was the opening event of the exhibition Reckoning with the Past that 

focusses attention on the defaced river site marker that was recently collected by the 

Museum. The program featured four community members form Tallahatchie county who 

are devoting their life's work to preserving the memory of Emmett Till.

9/2/2021 Completed African Americans No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Latinas Talk Latinas 

on Escaramuza

Three minute long video to be shared on social media focusing on the legacy of women in 

Charreria in the USA. It is accompanied by a Learning Lab collection with resources for 

educators.

10/2021 In-progress

Hispanics

Women

Yes

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Hidden Stories, 

Hidden Voices: 

Portraits of 

Manhattan's 

Chinatown 

This program featured a conversation with members of the Manhattan Chinatown 

community exploring the long-lasting effects of the September 11 attacks. The discussion 

focused on health, economic, and societal effects as shared through first-hand accounts of 

community members. It was hosted collaboratively with the Charles B. Wang Community 

Health Center, the Museum of Chinese in America, and the National Museum of American 

History.

9/1/2021 Completed Asian Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Hidden Stories, 

Hidden Voices: Art 

in the Aftermath

This program featured Latinx and Chinese American artists sharing their stories of how 

their experiences of September 11 shaped their artistry, community, and the world at 

large. This program was hosted collaboratively by the Museum of Chinese in America, El 

Museo del Barrio, and the National Museum of American History.

9/9/2021 Completed Asian Americans

Hispanics

Yes

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Hidden Stories, 

Hidden Voices: 

Latinx 

Empowerment 

After the Attacks 

This program featured members of the New York City Latinx community sharing their 

experiences navigating complex immigration policy, worsening health effects, and 

socioeconomic challenges while serving the city as first responders, volunteers, organizers, 

and caregivers. This panel built on the museum’s New York City 9-11 Collecting Initiative to 

highlight the stories of the Latina/o/x experience in the September 11 narrative. This 

program was hosted collaboratively by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety 

and Health, the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, the Mexican Cultural Institute in 

Washington D.C., and the National Museum of American History.

9/10/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH Made By Us

Cross-institutional collaboration designed to reach an underserved audience in museums 

and historic sites -- 18-29 year olds. We ignite and inform civic participation through 

programs, content and campaigns like the Civic Season, powered by history from 

pluralistic sources.

2021 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Public Programming Program

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

Pleibol Exhibition 

Opening

A virtual opening celebration of the exhibition ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues 

/ En los barrios y las grandes ligas. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey into the heart 

and history of U.S. Latino baseball. Extraordinary stories demonstrate the impact of 

baseball within Latino communities across the nation as well as how Latinas/os have 

influenced and changed the game for over a century. In this digital tour curators provide a 

special behind-the-scenes look that will immerse viewers in the truly memorable stories 

and artifacts on display.

7/9/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Exhibitions

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

¡Hablemos de 

beisbol! 

Intergenerational 

stories of Latino 

Baseball in 

Saginaw, Michigan

The Smithsonian's ¡Pleibol! team will be co-hosting the virtual roundtable "¡Hablemos de 

beisbol! Intergenerational stories of Latino Baseball in Saginaw, Michigan” in collaboration 

with our partners at the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History. The panel will include 

scholars as well as local personalities who will focus on the important legacy of baseball in 

Latino communities across the country and especially in Saginaw. The panel celebrates the 

shared heritage featured in the traveling Smithsonian exhibition ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios 

and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas.

3/31/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Exhibitions

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

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Food Futures: 

Striving for Justice

2020 Food History weekend themed Food Futures featured the voices of people involved 

in different aspects of the food system—from agricultural fields to restaurant kitchens, 

from food markets to food banks, from hops farms to breweries, from classrooms to 

community centers. Our participants shared stories of resilience and creative relationshipbuilding in the wake of unprecedented economic, cultural, and public health challenges. 

We also explored models for food production and learned about many grassroots efforts 

across the country that have responded to the crisis. As we experience the energy and 

optimism of entrepreneurs, activists, and innovators in both food and drink, 

we engaged in some collective brainstorming on strategies for building a better food 

system together. Our programs for the weekend included cooking demonstrations, panel 

conversations, digital artist galleries, and food justice resources.

10/15/2020 -

10/17/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture NMAH

NMAH Tuesday 

Colloquium: Zoom 

presentations on 

issues of race, 

equity, and 

inclusion. 

The NMAH Tuesday Colloquium is a weekly series of research-based lectures given by SI staff, fellows, and 

occasional non-SI speakers. Virtual offerings this year included a number of presentations devoted to minority 

history, especially African American history, and women's history. The audience is primarily Smithsonian staff, 

although a mailing list for non-Smithsonian colleagues includes scholars from the Washington region and 

elsewhere, as well as members of the public who have requested admission to the email group.

Oct. 20, 2020: Tyrone McKinley Freeman, with Modupe Labode: “Madam C. J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving: Black 

Women’s Philanthropy during Jim Crow,” attendance 47

Nov. 17, 2020: Lila Corwin Berman: “The American Jewish Philanthropic Complex: The History of a Multi-Billion 

Dollar Enterprise,” attendance 23

Dec. 8, 2020: Steven Lonker: “Using Multimedia Enhanced Tours to Show How the Struggle for Equality in a Country 

Divided by Class, Race, Gender and Self-Interest Has Shaped Us,” attendance 33

Jan. 12, 2021: Jorge Santiago-Blay: “Contributions of Some Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Entomologists and Botanists: 

A Silent Legacy No More” (offered with sign-language interpreters), attendance 33

Mar. 9, 2021: Mary Jane Appel: Picturing Race in the New Deal: Politics, Public Service, and Print Media in FSA 

Photography,” attendance approx. 40

Mar. 16, 2021: Catherine Stewart: “Home/Work: Race, Gender, and Domestic Work in the South During the Great 

Depression,” attendance 30

April 27, 2021: Margaret Salazar Portio and others: “Collecting regarding community-led responses to disasters, 

including the Pandemic, in Puerto Rico,” attendance 50

May 4, 2021: Tanisha C. Ford: “Our Secret Society: Black Women and Racial Justice Philanthropy,” attendance 29

May 11, 2021: Finis Dunaway: “Defending the Arctic Refuge: A Photographer, an Indigenous Nation, and a Fight for 

Environmental Justice,” attendance 40

May 18, 2021: Jennifer A. Porter-Lupu: “Excavating Healthcare Inequalities: Mapping Disease and Drug Access in 

Washington, DC 1890-1920,” attendance 50

June 8, 2021: Allison Robinson: "’We made different human beings out of them’: Women's Labor and Racialized 

Cultural Nationalism in the WPA,” attendance approx. 40

July 20, 2021: Colette Veasey-Cullors, with Shannon Perich: “Photography and Ethics” [photographing in Black 

communities], attendance 64

 Aug. 10, 2021: Franklin A. Robinson, Jr.: “March to Marketing: The Changing Face of Pride,” attendance 44

Sept. 28, 2021 [scheduled] Tim Winkle: “Buried Legacy: African American Firefighters in 19th Century Charleston”

10/2020 - 

9/2021 Completed

African Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Love, Lilyan 

backpacks for 

students

Funded by an endowment from a former docent, this initiative provides backpacks full of 

art supplies for underserved students in Title 1 and FERS programs in DC, Maryland, and 

Virginia schools. 

2013 - Ongoing In-progress

African Americans

Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

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Culture SAAM Art Signs

Lively ongoing series of gallery conversations in American Sign Language (ASL) led by deaf 

gallery guides. 2013 - Ongoing In-progress Individuals with Disabilities No Public Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Student Bus Grants Donor funded program that provides buses to bring students from under-resourced areas to the museum for field trips (not to be confused with the museum's Hearst Program). 2014 - Ongoing In-progress

African Americans

Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

America InSight: 

Verbal Descriptions 

Tours

Docent-led tours for visitors who are blind or have low vision enabling them to discover 

highlights from SAAM's collection through rich verbal description and sensory experience. 

Touch tour components for sculpture may be included.

2015 - Ongoing In-progress Individuals with Disabilities Yes Public Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Creating American 

Stories

Funded by the William Randolph Hearst Endowment for America’s Artistic Heritage, this 

museum program brings eighth graders from local DC schools in under-resourced areas to 

visit the museum. The students spend their spring semester studying and writing about 

eight artworks from the American Art Museum collection.

2015 - Ongoing In-progress

African Americans

Hispanics

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No Education Program Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Harlem Heroes 

Teaching Resource

To accompany the exhibition: 16-page guide for teachers has chapters on Debating Black 

Identity and Recording Black History. An in-depth look at the cultural history behind the 

creation of Van Vechten’s photographs and sitters. Available as a printed resource and as 

an online resource.

2016 - Ongoing In-progress African Americans No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Poster Set: The 

American 

Experience

Set of 18" x 24" teaching posters. Three of the ten posters feature works that highlight 

African American and Latino artists: Jacob Lawrence (2 posters) and Antonio Martorell. 

Available as a printed resource and as an online resource.

2017 - Ongoing In-progress

African Americans

Hispanics

No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

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Museums & 

Culture SAAM Curatorial Position

SAAM and the NMAI are the recipients of a new five-year term shared curatorial position, 

funded through the Smithsonian's Women's History Initiative. The curator will explore 

the historic relationship between gender and craft and how it informed two converging 

episodes of late 19th and early 20th century American art history. In particular the curator 

will explore the emergence of American Arts and Crafts as an aesthetic and social 

movement and a period of increasingly professionalized artistic practice and the 

recognition and promotion of female Native artists as exemplars of distinctively 

"American" craft production.

6/2018-2023 In-progress

Native Americans

Women

No Curatorial Position Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Mornings at the 

Museum

A sensory-friendly program for children, teenagers, and young adults with disabilities. The 

program includes early entry into the museum, facilitated and thematic activities, a take-abreak space, and pre-visit materials like social narratives and sensory maps.2019 - Ongoing In-progress Individuals with Disabilities No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Between Worlds: 

The Art of Bill 

Traylor Teaching 

Resource

To accompany the exhibition: guide for teachers has biographical information on the artist 

as well as historical context. The activities in this resource help students consider possible 

multiple readings of Traylor’s work and challenge students to question the perspectives 

and stories hidden within or missing from the telling of American history. Available as a 

printed resource and as an online resource. 

9/2018 - 

Ongoing

In-progress African Americans No Education Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Conservation 

Research on Alma 

Thomas

Conservation has been awarded $35,000 to conduct innovative research on the process 

behind the abstracted paintings by renowned artist Alma Thomas (1891-1978). Chief of 

Conservation Amber Kerr and Paintings Conservator Gwen Manthey have met with both 

researchers and Friends of Alma Thomas donor group to share the research as it develops.

10/1/2018 - 

Ongoing

In-progress African Americans No Education Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM See Me at SAAM

Ongoing series of tours for visitors with memory loss and their care partners; Wednesday 

afternoons at 2:00 pm.

10/3/2018 - 

Ongoing

In-progress Individuals with Disabilities No Public Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

See Me at SAAM 

(Spanish)

Ongoing series of tours for visitors with memory loss and their care partners; Wednesday 

afternoons at 2:00 pm. Launched new online training to conduct "See Me" programs in 

Spanish.

10/1/2020 - 

Ongoing

In-progress

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities No Public Programming Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Culture SAAM

Traveling 

Exhibition: "African 

American Art in the 

20th Century from 

the Smithsonian 

American Art 

Museum"

African American Art in the 20th Century, a traveling exhibition organized by SAAM's Chief Curator 

Virginia Mecklenburg and drawn largely from SAAM's permanent collection, presents a selection of 50 

paintings, sculpture, and prints by thirty-six black artists who explored the African American experience 

from the Harlem Renaissance through the Civil Rights era. On Feb. 22nd, in conjunction with the 

opening, Virginia Mecklenburg presented a lecture at the Dubuque Museum of Art (Iowa). The show 

travels to cities across the United States, including the Dubuque Museum of Art, Ja. 19, 2019-April 21, 

2019, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Winter Park, Florida, Sept. 20, 2019-Dec. 29, 2019, the Westmorland 

Museum of Art in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, opening February 15, 2020, and reopening on August 5, 

2020, following the museum's closure due to Covid-19. The show will now close on January 17, 2021. 

The show opens at the Wichita Art Museum Feb 6, 2021-May 23, 2021. Partial funding for the project 

was provided by Art Bridges.

1/19/2019-

5/23/2021 In-progress African Americans No

Exhibitions;#Traveling 

Exhibitions

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Museum Loan

Elijah Pierce's paintings "Your Life Is a Book and Every Day Is a Page" (1973) and "Elijah 

Pierce, Peace with Honor" (1973) were lent to the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia for 

the exhibition "Elijah Pierce's America."

9/20/2020-

1/10/2021 In-progress African Americans No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Hearts of Our 

People Curator and 

Artist Conversation

Learn more about the collaborative curatorial process and the exquisite artwork by Native 

women featured in the landmark exhibition "Hearts of Our People: Native Women 

Artists." Join curators Jill Ahlberg Yohe, associate curator of Native American Art at the 

Minneapolis Institute of Art and Teri Greeves, an independent curator and member of the 

Kiowa Nation, along with featured artists Kelly Church (Ottawa/Pottawatomi) and Carla 

Hemlock (Kanienkehaka) for this virtual conversation moderated by Anya Montiel, SAAM's 

curator of American and Native American Women's Art and Craft.

10/1/2020 Completed Native Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Lecture: Georgia 

O'Keeffe's Aerial 

River Series, Gaia, 

and the "Web of 

Life" with Randall 

Griffin

Join Randall Griffin, professor of art history at Southern Methodist University, for the third 

lecture in a six-part series that examines the profound impact of Alexander von Humboldt, 

a renowned Prussian naturalist and explorer and one of the most influential figures of the 

nineteenth century. This thought-provoking online lecture is presented in conjunction 

with SAAM's landmark exhibition "Alexander von Humboldt and the United States: Art, 

Nature and Culture" that examine how Humboldt's ideas shaped American perceptions of 

nature and the way American cultural identity became grounded in our relationship with 

the environment.

10/7/2020 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Converse with a 

Conservator: Video 

and Performance 

Art

Learn more about the link between video and performance art and the many issues 

associated with conserving these artworks. Join SAAM media conservator Dan Finn for an 

online discussion on how these challenges have influenced the broader evolution of timebased media artwork and conservation. Featured works include Girl, Simone Leigh, Chitra 

Ganesh "My Dreams, My Works Must Wait Till After Hell," 2011, single-channel digital 

video.

10/8/2020 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Culture SAAM

Presentation on 

Diversity in the 

Field of 

Conservation at 

Buffalo State 

University's 50th 

Anniversary 

Symposium

During the Buffalo State University's 50th Anniversary Symposium panel discussion, "Our 

Conservation Future: Together, Moving Forward toward an Inclusive and Diverse Field," 

SAAM conservator Ariel O'Connor gave a talk on salary negotiation.

10/24/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Masters

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Presentation on 

Women in the Field 

of Conservation at 

the Smithsonian's 

Symposium 

"American Women 

of Science: 

Recovering History, 

Defining the 

Future"

SAAM conservator Amber Kerr gave a talk titled "First Ladies of Cultural Heritage" at the 

Smithsonian's virtual symposium "American Women of Science: Recovering History, 

Defining the Future." 

10/29/2020 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

"Stores of Women 

in STEM at the 

Smithsonian"

For the publication "Stories of Women in STEM at the Smithsonian," SAAM conservator 

Amber Kerr contributed an essay on her path to becoming an art conservator at the 

Smithsonian.

Fall 2020 Completed Women Yes Publication Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th 

Grade)High School (9th - 12th 

Grade)

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Clarice Smith 

Virtual Lecture 

Series: Jolene 

Richard

Discuss art, process, and scholarship with one of the featured artists from the landmark 

exhibition "Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists." Join Jolene Richard (Tuscarora), 

artist, curator, associate professor of art history and visual studies and director of the 

American Indian and Indigenous studies program at Cornell University, for an online 

lecture about her work relating to Native and Indigenous Aesthetics. 

10/29/2020 Completed Native Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Celebrate Day of 

the Dead with 

Online Craft and 

Activities

Craft your own decorations including paper calaveras (decorative skulls), lanterns, and 

marigolds with step-by-step instructions. Enjoy videos of traditional Mexican folk dance 

performances. Download a coloring page featuring artworks from SAAM's pioneering 

Latinx art collection.

11/2/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Culture SAAM

Converse with a 

Conservator: 

William H. 

Johnson's Fighters 

for Freedom

See how art conservators preserve and protect the paintings in the Smithsonian American 

Art Museum's collection from the effects of time. Join Keara Teeter, a 1919-2020 Samuel 

H. Kress Fellow in Paintings Conversation, as she explains her conservation treatment of 

William H. Johnson's iconic "Fighters for Freedom" paintings. Created 75 years ago this 

series celebrates prominent Black Americans who fought for civil rights.

11/5/2020 Completed African Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Teacher Virtual 

Workshop - Slogans

Workshop with Sidwell Friends School teachers on the power of slogans using SAAM 

artworks that feature the visual communication of the United Farm Workers Union. 11/15/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Double Take 

Online: Native 

Artists Creating 

during the COVID19 Pandemic

Join three experts from across the Smithsonian as they come together to look at 

protective masks made by Native artists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anya Montiel, 

curator of American and Native American Women's Art and Craft at the Smithsonian 

American Art Museum, is joined by Alexandra M. Lord, curator and chair in Division of 

Medicine and Science at the National Museum of American History, and Cecile R. 

Ganteaume, curator at the National Museum of the American Indian, for this engaging 

virtual discussion. Learn more about the medical history of masks and their uses as well as 

the impact of COVID-19 on the Indigenous communities in the United States.

11/18/2020 Completed Native Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Exhibition: 

"¡Printing the 

Revolution! The 

Rise and Impact of 

Chicano Graphics, 

1965 to Now"

In the 1960s, activist Chicano artists forged a remarkable history of printmaking that 

remains vital today. Many artists came of age during the civil rights, labor, anti-war, 

feminist and LGBTQ+ movements and channeled the period’s social activism into assertive 

aesthetic statements that announced a new political and cultural consciousness among 

people of Mexican descent in the United States. ¡Printing the Revolution! explores the rise 

of Chicano graphics within these early social movements and the ways in which Chicanx 

artists since then have advanced innovative printmaking practices attuned to social justice.

11/20/2020-

8/8/2021 In-progress Hispanics No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Explore the Chicanx 

Graphic Arts 

Movement with 

Artists and 

Collectors

Celebrate the opening of "¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano 

Graphics, 1965 to Now" with a virtual opening program. Preview this landmark exhibition, 

which presents for the first time historical civil rights-era prints by Chicano artists 

alongside works by graphic artists working from the 1980s to today. Joint featured artists 

Juan Fuentes, Ester Hernandez, and Zeke Pena for the moderated online conversation 

about the social justice roots of their work and the importance of Chicanx graphics in 

American visual cultural. Presented with closed captioning in both English and Spanish.

11/19/2020 Completed Hispanics No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Culture SAAM

Clarice Smith 

Virtual Lecture 

Series: Bisa Butler

Explore the past, present, and future with fiber artist Bisa Butler as she discusses how 

familial, education, and societal influence inspired her to blend the line between art and 

craft. Butler is know for creating monumental quilted portraits of Black life and cultural 

identity with striking originality that shares multilayered historical meanings and stories. 

Learn more about how Butler's matrilineal sewing legacy, patrilineal Ghanaian roots, and 

the AfriCOBRA art movement resonate in her inventive quilting technique. Butler also 

shares how the current Black Lives Matter cry for racial justice and COVID-19 have 

influenced her work as she looks to creating the future.

11/20/2020 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Student Program - 

Art Conservation

For students at the Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota, SAAM Education and Lunder 

Conservation Center staff presented a virtual school program on ceramics conservation 

during the school's Science in Art class. 

11/24/2020 Completed Native Americans Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Converse with a 

Conservator: Folk 

and Self-Taught Art

Join objects conservator Leah Bright for a lively conversation on the unique conservation 

challenges behind preserving SAAM's collection of folk and self-taught art. Often 

composed of unconventional materials like plastic, tin foil, glitter, and bottle caps, the 

collection requires a nuanced conservation approach. Discover compelling stories behind 

the works, including James Hampton's "The Throne of the Third Heaven of the Nations' 

Millennium General Assembly," SAAM's remarkable quilt collection, and Simon Sparrow's 

glittery "Assemblage with Found Objects." 

12/2/2020 Completed African Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Teacher Virtual 

Workshop - 

Considering 

Cultural Identity: 

Inside Out and 

Back Again

Throughout history, humans have moved from one place to another in pursuit of 

opportunity and safety. When young people begin life among one culture and must later 

adapt to a different one, their self-identities are made more complex. Join us for this 

virtual workshop designed for educators and consider the personal historical facets of 

cultural identities shaped by migration. Content most relevant for 6th to 9th grade 

teachers.

12/9/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

No

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Wikipedia Edit-aThon: Chicanx Art 

and Artists Edition

Join us for a virtual Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon that helps to highlight more artists and stories 

like those featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's landmark exhibition 

"¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now." The 

exhibition brings together five decades of innovative printmaking by Chicano artists to 

explore the social justice-rooted artistic tradition and its contemporary legacy. Many of 

the featured artists came of age during the civil rights era and channeled the period's 

social activism into assertive aesthetic statements that announced a new political and 

cultural consciousness among people of Mexican descent in the United States. Learn how 

to edit and create new Wikipedia articles in this online editing workshop and work to 

amplify and expand on articles about Chicanx women and LGBTQ+ artists. All levels of 

technological proficiency welcome.

12/11/2020 Completed

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Smithsonian Voices 

article for 

Smithsonian 

Magazine

In the Smithsonian Voices article "Mixed Metaphors," SAAM and NPG education staff 

reflect on the power of artwork to stretch critical thinking skills and deepen understanding 

of works by Theaster Gates and Faith Ringgold.

12/15/2020 Completed African Americans No Publication Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Beirut Recovery 

Workshop

For the Smithsonian's Cultural Rescue Initiative, SAAM's Lunder Conservation Center staff 

led a three-day workshop on painting materials and how to safely transport, wrap, and 

store them for student volunteers from Lebanon University.

12/16/2020-

12/18/2020 Completed Middle Eastern Community No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program College/University

Museums & 

Culture SAAM New Accessions

New accessions for SAAM's Renwick Gallery include: 1.) 1) Jeremy Frey 

(Passamaquoddy), “Large Turquoise Urchin Basket” (2019) brown ash and sweetgrass 

basket; 2) James Watkins, “Communion” (1998) ceramic caldron; 3) Herman Vandever 

(Navajo), “Natural turquoise buffalo pendant” (2020); 4) Virginia Dotson, “Wood bowl” 

(n.d.) 5) Jane Osti (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma), “Tall squash pot” (2020); 6) Hubert 

Candelario (San Felipe Pueblo), “Perforated golden micaceous orb” (2020); 7) Linda Lopez, 

“Blue/Purple ombre with Rocks” (2018) porcelain “Furry” sculpture; 8) Einar and Jamex De 

La Torre, “Losing Bitch” (1994) mixed media and hand blown glass sculpture; 9) Michael 

Lucero, “Zoomorphic Dog Form in Stroller (New World Series)” (1994) ceramic sculpture 

with found doll stroller; 10) Norma Minkowitz, “Goodbye, My Friend” (2017) paper and 

fiber wall-hanging; 11) Preston Singletary (Tlingit), “Killer Whale Potlatch” (2002) glass 

potlatch hat

10/1/2020-

12/31/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Women

No Collections Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM IDEA Newsletter SAAM's IDEA Task Force newsletter, issue 1, December 2020 12/17/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Publication Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM New Accessions

New Accessions for SAAM include: 1.) Tiffany Chung, "reconstructing an exodus history: 

boat routes from Vietnam and flight routes from refugee camps & of ODP cases" (2020), 

2.)Thornton Dial Sr., "The Beginning of Life in the Yellow Jungle" (2003), 3.) Ana Mendieta, 

"Sweating Blood" (1973), 4.) George Morrison, "Untitled (Blue Painting)" (1958) 5.) John 

Ahearn & Rigoberto Torres, "Young Man of Anacostia", 6.) Raven Chacon "Report" 

(2001/2015), 7.) Tseng Kwong Chi, 6 photographs from the "East Meets West" series, 8.) 

Barbara Jones-Hogu, "One People Unite" (1969), 9.) Christine Sun Kim, "One Week of 

Lullabies for Roux" (2018), 10.) Cauleen Smith, "Sojourner" (2018)

10/1/2020-

12/31/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No Collections Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

New Writings in 

American Art: 

Virtual 

Conversation with 

Alexander 

Nemerov

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a virtual conversation featuring author 

and professor Alexander Nemerov. Learn more about Nemerov’s most recent publication 

Fierce Poise: Helen Frankenthaler and 1950s New York (2021). This program is part of 

SAAM’s ongoing series New Writings in American Art, highlighting new scholarship and 

publications in the field of American Art. 

4/8/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Beyond the Studio 

Virtual Workshop 

with Emily Paluska

Venture beyond the studio with local DC artists in this virtual crafting workshop series. No 

green thumb? No problem! Join botanical artist and educator Emily Paluska of Revery 

Paper Flora as she details the basics of paper botanical design and shows participants how 

to create a one-of-a-kind floral piece without dirt and upkeep.

4/11/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

 ¡Printing the 

Revolution! Virtual 

Conversation 

Series: Spirituality 

and Indigeneity 

within Chicanx Art

The ancient world, specifically Mesoamerica, has been a source of inspiration for Chicanx and other 

artists of Mexican descent. Join us for a virtual conversation that examines how Chicanx artists 

incorporate ancient Mesoamerican iconography with contemporary political efforts as an act of 

honoring and reinforcing Indigenous histories. Panelists include internationally renowned Mexican-born 

printmaker Enrique Chagoya, who creates prints conceptually fusing Mesoamerican mythology, 

western religious iconography, and American popular culture; currently, he is a professor in the 

department of art and art history at Stanford University. Chagoya is joined by Yreina D. Cervántez, a 

Xicana feminist artist based in Los Angeles. Her multimedia works incorporate ancient spirituality and 

feminist histories as a commentary on Chicana political consciousness. Cervántez is a professor 

emeritus in the department of Chicana/o studies at California State University at Northridge. This virtual 

conversation is moderated by Claudia Zapata, curatorial assistant for Latinx art at the Smithsonian 

American Art Museum. Zapata is also a contributor to the ¡Printing the Revolution! Catalogue. This 

program is the fourth in a five-part online conversation series that examines Chicanx graphics and how 

artists have used printmaking to debate larger social causes, reflect on issues of their time, and build 

community. Hear from artists, scholars, and activists about the Chicanx graphics movement, from civil 

rights–era prints to today’s digital landscape.

 This program received generous support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the 

Smithsonian Latino Center. 

4/15/2021 Completed Hispanics

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Association of 

Research Institutes 

in Art History 

(ARIAH) 2021 

Careers in Art 

History Virtual 

Internship Program

SAAM was selected by the Association of Research Institutes in Art History (ARIAH) as one 

of eight hosts for its April 2021 Careers in Art History Virtual Internship Program. This 

intensive program targets college students from underrepresented communities with little 

to no museum experience.

3/29/2021 - 

4/30/2021 Completed Residents of Under-resourced Communities No

Internships

Virtual Internships

Program College/University

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Renwick 

Invitational 2020 

Virtual Artist 

Conversation with 

Lauren 

Fensterstock

Discover the wonders of the celestial world with Lauren Fensterstock, one of the artists 

featured in Forces of Nature: Renwick Invitational 2020. Fensterstock is joined by guest 

curator Emily Zilber to discuss her large-scale installation at the Renwick Gallery. Learn 

more about Fensterstock’s creative process and how the sixteenth-century German 

manuscript, The Book of Miracles, inspired her current work. 

4/29/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Staff screening of 

"Coded Bias"

"Coded Bias" explores the fallout of MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini’s discovery 

that facial recognition does not see dark-skinned faces accurately, and her journey to push 

for the first ever legislation in the U.S. to govern against bias in the algorithms that impact 

us all.

4/23/2021 - 

4/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

No Education Workforce Other Programming for Adults

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Museums & 

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International 

Coalition of Sites of 

Conscience 

Training

During the spring of 2021, a cross-departmental cohort of fifteen SAAM staff members 

participated in an intensive series of trainings in cultural competency, dialogue, and 

community engagement facilitated by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. 

The trainings focused on informing the museum's approach to the upcoming "Race and 

American Sculpture" exhibition scheduled for 2024.

3/2021 - 5/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Training Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

New Writings in 

American Art: 

Virtual 

Conversation with 

Adair Margo

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a virtual conversation featuring author and arts leader 

Adair Margo. Learn more about Margo’s most recent publication, Voices of La Lydia: The History of 

Lydia Patterson Institute (2020), which details stories of success and perseverance from the more than 

100-year history of the Lydia Preston Institute. A Methodist mission school founded in El Paso, Texas, in 

1913, the Institute was established as a Spanish-speaking boys school and was known as a place of 

refuge for those fleeing Mexico during the 1910–24 Mexican Revolution. It also established one of the 

pioneering English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in the United States. This virtual book talk is 

part of SAAM’s ongoing series New Writings in American Art, highlighting new scholarship and 

publications in the field of American art. Adair Margo is the founder of the Tom Lea Institute in El Paso 

and the former chair of the Texas Commission on the Arts. She chaired the President’s Committee on 

the Arts and the Humanities from 2001 to 2009 and owned Adair Margo Gallery in El Paso from 1985 to 

2010. Margo received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President George W. Bush and the Orden 

Mexicana del Águila Azteca from Mexican President Felipe Calderón for her work in strengthening 

international relationships through art and culture.

5/5/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Toward Equity in 

Publishing

The Dedalus Foundation has awarded the Smithsonian American Art Museum $64,000 

over two years to support the "American Art" journal's "Toward Equity in Publishing" 

professional development program aimed at increasing the diversity of scholars in the field 

of American art history.

5/26/2021 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanic

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No Training Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Podcast Release: 

Luce Listening Party 

with Hometown 

Sounds and Yasmin 

Williams

Luce Unplugged has gone digital! SAAM’s Luce Foundation Center has teamed up with 

 Paul  Vodra  and  Anthony  Porecco  of local music podcast Hometown Sounds to feature 

music and conversations from DC artists. Tune in for an episode featuring  the 

experimental guitar melodies of DC musician Yasmin Williams. Williams is known for her 

unique, fingerstyle acoustic guitar and for her innovative use of alternate tunings and 

percussion techniques.

5/28/2021 Completed African Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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¡Printing the 

Revolution! Virtual 

Conversation 

Series: Creating in a 

Digital Space

The digital realm defines a new chapter of Chicanx graphics. Artists use technologically based artwork 

to critique Big Tech, as well as distribute digital graphics across social media networks as a unifying call 

for social justice. This virtual conversation features artists from ¡Printing the Revolution! The Rise and 

Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now who use digital strategies as a form of political advocacy for 

issues such as immigration, the commodification of personal data, and queer rights. Panelists include 

San Antonio–based artist Michael Menchaca, whose multimedia works incorporate ancient 

Mesoamerican iconography and digital interfaces to comment on tech culture and its adverse effects on 

communities of color; and Los Angeles–based undocumented queer artist and social justice activist 

Julio Salgado, who is best known for his digital images supporting the migrant rights movement. This 

virtual conversation is moderated by Claudia Zapata, curatorial assistant for Latinx art at the 

Smithsonian American art. Zapata also authored the essay “Chicanx Art in the Digital Age,” in the 

¡Printing the Revolution! catalogue. This program is the fifth in a five-part online conversation series 

that examines Chicanx graphics and how artists have used printmaking to debate larger social causes, 

reflect on issues of their time, and build community. The series featured artists, scholars, and activists 

discussing the significance of the Chicanx graphics movement, from civil rights–era prints to today’s 

digital landscape. Watch all five conversations on the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s YouTube 

channel. This program received generous support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the 

Smithsonian Latino Center.

5/13/2021 Completed

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Fellows 2021 

Virtual Lectures

"Otium et Negotium: Edmonia Lewis, Sallie Mercer, and Sarah Parker Remond in Italy;" "An Audience 

with the Empress: The Placement of Cixi’s Portrait in the 1904 St. Louis Exposition;" "Certain fields 

must be excluded in this first project: Defining the American Craftsman in the Index of American 

Design;" "Alternative Visions: Puerto Rico’s Generación del 50 between the Graphic and Photographic;" 

"Commensality and Its Discontents: Alison Knowles’s 1960’s Food Scores;" "How Was Art Mobilized by 

Sexual Politics in 1980?;" "Body Doubles: Gender Transformation in Greer Lankton’s Dolls."

5/12/2021-

5/14/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

LGBTQIA+

Women

No Fellowships Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Beyond the Studio 

Virtual Workshop 

with Marcella 

Kriebel

Venture beyond the studio with DC artist Marcella Kriebel. Register now for this engaging 

Zoom workshop and learn the basics of watercolor and illustration techniques, then try 

your hand at making your own masterpiece. Kriebel is known for her culinary watercolor 

paintings and murals throughout DC, which include collaborations with Call Your Mother 

Deli, POW! WOW! DC, and José Andrés’s food relief non-profit, World Central Kitchen.

5/23/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Museums & 

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Viewfinder Virtual 

Film Series: Chitra 

Ganesh on 

Dreaming and 

Refusal

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a virtual film screening featuring the work of artistic 

duo Girl. Made up of the Brooklyn-based artists Chitra Ganesh and Simone Leigh, Girl created the 

collaborative video My Dreams, My Works Must Wait Till After Hell (7:14 mins., 2011). Set to a haunting 

score of Japanese flutes and drums, viewers observe the unclothed back of a Black woman. Turned 

away, the woman’s body represents both vulnerability and a declaration of strength and refusal to be 

available to desiring or oppressive eyes. After this mesmerizing screening, Ganesh is joined by Saisha 

Grayson time-based media curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, to discuss how this work 

asserts and protects the right to the complex, concealed inner lives for women of color and constitutes 

a queer, feminist response to centuries of the female nude depicted in Western art history. This 

program is part of Viewfinder: Women’s Film and Video from the Smithsonian, a monthly virtual film 

screening and conversation series sponsored by the Smithsonian American Women’s History Initiative, 

Because of Her Story. 

6/3/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Virtual Drag Queen 

Story Time with 

Ruth Allen 

Ginsburg

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum online for our annual Pride festivities and 

celebrate inclusivity and love for all. Enjoy a lively story time performance with beloved DC 

drag queen Ruth Allen Ginsburg. Ruth brings fun for the whole family as she reads classic 

nursery rhymes and tales for children. Then, continue the party by checking out craft 

activities, coloring pages, video performances, and more on our Pride Family Zone.

6/5/2021 Completed LGBTQIA+ No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

SAAM Pride Family 

Zone Celebration

June is National Pride Month, when we celebrate the strength, dignity, and achievements of people 

who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and other gender-fluid designations (LGBTQ+), and 

with this community continue to make a stand for basic human rights. Why does Pride Month matter? 

Throughout history, LGBTQ+ people have faced discrimination, bullying, and even violence because of 

who they are. While LGBTQ+ people still face many obstacles today, they have greater rights and 

freedoms thanks in part to brave leaders like those celebrated during Pride Month. You can learn more 

in the exhibition from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Illegal to Be You: Gay 

History Beyond Stonewall. Visit this page throughout the month for more updates as we celebrate 

Pride. We are inclusive in our celebration and welcome families of all kinds to explore the contributions 

of LGBTQ+ communities to American art and culture. Since we can’t admire your creativity in person, 

please share a picture of your completed creations by using #SAAMFamilyZone on social media. We 

look forward to celebrating with you online.

6/1/2021 - 

6/30/2021 Completed LGBTQIA+ No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

17th Annual Frost 

Essay Award

Sascha Scott is the recipient of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Patricia and 

Phillip Frost Essay Award for her article “Georgia O’Keeffe’s Hawai'i? Decolonizing the 

History of American Modernism,” which appeared in the summer 2020 issue (vol. 34, no. 

2) of American Art. In her essay, Scott calls for art historians to decolonize the field of 

American art by fully contextualizing artwork related to oppressed peoples and cultures.

6/3/2021 Completed Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

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Steven and 

Stephanie Kasok 

Family Internship 

for Museum 

Studies

SAAM announces new $20,000 paid internship. The Steven and Stephanie Kasok Family 

Internship for Museum Studies will expand and enrich the community of museum 

professionals by providing an opportunity for students from all cultural, economic, and 

academic backgrounds who aspire to careers in the museum field. This award will give a 

full-time internship to one highly qualified individual, along with the support, mentoring, 

and training required for their professional development. 

6/15/2021 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No Internships Program College/University

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

New Writings in 

American Art: 

Virtual 

Conversation with 

Mary Anne Goley

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for a virtual conversation featuring author and art historian 

Mary Anne Goley. Learn more about Goley’s most recent publication Democracy’s Medici: The Federal 

Reserve and the Art of Collecting (2020). This program is part of SAAM’s ongoing series New Writings in 

American Art, highlighting new scholarship and publications in the field of American art. Goley was the 

founding director of the Fine Arts Program of the Federal Reserve Board (1975–2006). She led a fifteenmember advisory panel and liaised with Federal Reserve board members and the thirty-six system-wide 

bank presidents and their directors advising on art policy. She has authored John White Alexander: An 

American Artist in the Gilded Age (2018) and Style & Grace: Masterworks of American Art from the 

Collection of Michael A. and Marilyn L. Mennello (2012) and contributes to numerous publications, 

including Apollo: The International Art Magazine, among others.

6/16/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Virtual Drag Queen 

Art Bingo Night

Celebrate Pride with the Smithsonian American Art Museum and DC drag diva KC B. Yoncé. 

Grab your favorite festive beverage and join us for a lively evening of drag bingo, American 

art, and more. Register now and request 1 to 4 printable bingo cards featuring artworks by 

American artists who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. We will host two rounds of 

bingo during this program.

6/18/2021 Completed LGBTQIA+ No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Podcast Release: 

Luce Listening Party 

with Hometown 

Sounds and Wes 

Felton

Luce Unplugged has gone digital! SAAM’s Luce Foundation Center has teamed up with 

 Paul  Vodra  and  Anthony  Porecco  of local music podcast Hometown Sounds to feature 

music and conversations from DC artists. Tune in for an episode featuring legendary DC 

singer, actor, and emcee Wes Felton. Felton’s many talents and varied career have earned 

him national acclaim and a special place in the history of his hometown.

6/25/2021 Completed African Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Beyond the Studio 

Virtual Workshop 

with Sterling Rhyne

Venture beyond the studio with fiber artist Sterling Rhyne, of Cactus Lady Creation, in a 

virtual crafting workshop. During this engaging Zoom, learn about fiber art and try your 

hand at learning the basics of macramé, a form of textile produced using intricate knotting 

techniques.

6/27/2021 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Museums & 

Culture SAAM Eye Level Blogs

Chicanx Graphic Arts in Focus: La Curandera; Podcast Release: Music and Conversation with Singer, 

Actor, Painter, and Emcee Wes Felton; Nancy Grossman and the Art of Unlearning; Chicanx Queer 

Visions: Fighting for Change and Exploring Identity; Sculpting Pride: Timothy Horn's Artworks Delve into 

the Human and Natural Worlds; What Does a Gay Bar Look Like?; Seeing the Rainbow in SAAM's 

Collection; Artist Brendan Fernandes on the Dance Floor as a Space for Resistance and Resilience; 

Popping (Up) with Pride at SAAM; A Brush with History: Letters to Jonathan Van Ness; Chicanx Graphic 

Arts in Focus: Manifestaciones; Making the Most: Kit Paulson; Podcast Release: Music and Conversation 

with Experimental Guitarist Yasmin Williams; Chicanx Graphic Arts in Focus: José Martí; Asian American 

artists and the WPA; Protest and Remembrance: Chicanx Artists Confront Police Brutality; Chicanx 

Graphic Arts in Focus: Alice Bag; Chicano Artists Challenging History and Reclaiming Cultural Memory; 

Podcast Release: Music and Conversation with Singer-Songwriter Jenna Camille; Chicanx Graphic Arts in 

Focus: Mujer de Mucha Enagua, PA'TI XICANA; Christine McHorse, and Artist Whose Clay Works Pushed 

Against Conventions; Beyond the Studio with Revery Paper Flora; Chicanx Graphic Arts in Focus: Hasta 

La Victoria Siempre; Alexander Nemerov on Helen Frankenthaler; Making the Most: In the Studio with 

Donté K. Hayes; Five Women Changemakers in American Art.

4/1/2021 - 

6/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM IDEA Newsletter SAAM's IDEA Task Force newsletter, issue 3, Summer 2021 Summer 2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No Newsletter Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Museum Loan

Ethel Isadore Brown's "Vision de Saint Jean a Patmos" and Helen Lundeberg's "Double 

Portrait of the Artist in Time" were lent to the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio for their 

exhibition "Supernatural America: The Paranormal in American Art."

6/12/2021 - 

9/5/2021 In-progress Women No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

New Writings in 

American Art: 

Virtual 

Conversation with 

Glenn Adamson

Discover how craft artists have shaped the cultural identity of the United States. Join the Smithsonian 

American Art Museum for a virtual conversation featuring author and craft historian Glenn Adamson. 

Learn more about Adamson’s most recent publication, Craft: An American History (2021) and how 

artisanship has had an impact on education, equality, and class in the United States. From the colonists’ 

desire to define themselves separately from England to the makers movements of recent decades, dive 

deeper into the stories of these artists to see how handmade creations are central to the continued 

development of a “more perfect union.” This virtual book talk features Adamson and Gloria Kenyon, 

Senior Public Programs Coordinator for the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It is part of SAAM’s 

ongoing series New Writings in American Art, highlighting new scholarship and publications in the field 

of American art. Glenn Adamson is a curator, writer, and historian based in New York. He has previously 

been Director of the Museum of Arts and Design; Head of Research at the V&A; and Curator at the 

Chipstone Foundation. Adamson’s publications include Thinking Through Craft (2007); The Craft Reader 

(2010); Postmodernism: Style and Subversion (2011, co-edited with Jane Pavitt); The Invention of Craft 

(2013); Art in the Making (2016, co-authored with Julia Bryan-Wilson); and Fewer Better Things: The 

Hidden Wisdom of Objects (2018).

7/14/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Beyond theStuio 

Virtual Workshop: 

Embroidery with 

Nichole Sorhaindo

Venture beyond the studio with DC-based embroidery artist Nichole Sorhaindo of The 

Other Cat Creations in this engaging Zoom workshop. Learn the basics of embroidery and 

create your own embroidered work of art. Sorhaindo, a health equity professional by day, 

and craft DIY-er by night, uses creating as an opportunity for meditation and stress relief. 

Her work has been featured in DCist, The Washington Post, and Shop Made in DC. Space is 

limited for this program, and registration is required. 

7/18/2021 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Podcast Release: 

Luce Listening Party 

with Hometown 

Sounds and Bartee 

Strange

Luce Unplugged has gone digital! SAAM’s Luce Foundation Center has teamed up 

with Paul Vodra and Anthony Porecco of local music podcast Hometown Sounds to feature 

music and conversations from DC artists. Tune in for an episode featuring producer and 

songwriter Bartees Strange. Strange has been featured in Pitchfork and Rolling Stone, and 

on Late Night with Seth Myers and NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. His 2020 album, Live 

Forever, has been widely praised for its innovative combination of R&B, pop-punk, hiphop, and indie rock.

7/30/2021 Completed African Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

"Welcome Home: A 

Portrait of East 

Baltimore, 1975-

1980" exhibition

Welcome Home: A Portrait of East Baltimore, 1975-1980 captures a cross-section of East 

Baltimore residents and businesses in the 1970s, documenting the community’s history 

and diversity. These photographs by Elinor Cahn, Joan Clark Netherwood, and Linda Rich 

were taken as part of a program of photography surveys sponsored by the National 

Endowment for the Arts to celebrate the bicentennial of founding of the United States.

7/16/2021 - 

1/17/2022 In-progress Residents of Under-resourced Communities No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

"Many Wests: 

Artists Shape an 

American Idea" 

traveling exhibition

Ideas about the American West, both in popular culture and in commonly accepted 

historical narratives, are often based on a past that never was, and fail to take into 

account important events that actually occurred. The exhibition Many Wests: Artists Shape 

an American Idea examines the perspectives of 48 modern and contemporary artists who 

offer a broader and more inclusive view of this region. The exhibition presents an 

opportunity to examine previous misconceptions, question racist clichés and highlight the 

multiple communities and histories that continue to form this iconic region of the United 

States. Working in various media, from painting and sculpture to photography and mixed 

media, the artist features in the exhibition bring a nuanced and multifaceted history into 

view. Among the many voices and communities highlighted in this exhibition, "Many 

Wests" showcases artworks by artists who are Black, white, women, men, LGBTQ+, Native 

American, Asian American and Latinx. 

7/31/2021 - 

1/14/2024 In-progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Women

No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

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Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Viewfinder Virtual 

Film Series: Leslie 

Thornton on 

Surviving

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for an engaging virtual lecture with award-winning 

filmmaker Leslie Thornton. Learn how Thornton, with her decades-long episodic film epic Peggy and 

Fred in Hell (1983–2015), secured a place of reverence in cinema history. Enjoy a special screening of 

the series’ most well-known video, Peggy and Fred in Kansas (11 mins, 1987). In this short piece, 

viewers are introduced to the protagonists as young children, responding to a post-apocalyptic Earth 

that has forced them into hiding. They live among the debris of their former society and rely on tune-in 

radio signals for glimpses into another world. Following the screening, Thornton and Saisha Grayson, 

time based media curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, reflect on how this avant-garde 

film classic resonates with renewed urgency for audiences in 2021, after a year of contemplating a 

threatening environment “out there” via media consumption while at home. They will be joined by 

Natalie Bell, curator at the MIT List Visual Arts Center, who is organizing the Thornton retrospective 

that opens there this October. This program is part of Viewfinder: Women’s Film and Video from the 

Smithsonian, a monthly virtual film screening and conversation series sponsored by the Smithsonian 

American Women’s History Initiative, Because of Her Story. 

8/5/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

SAAM Arcade 2021: 

Building 

Community, 

Embracing 

Individuality

SAAM Arcade is back and online this year! Join us for a day of virtual play and be the first 

to discover the latest independent games created during SAAM’s inaugural game jam. Test 

out brand new video and tabletop games created by the talented developers, artists, and 

creators that make up our SAAM Arcade community. This year we have partnered with 

IGDA DC to bring you this new SAAM Arcade format that mixes interactive play with a 

week-long creative game jam session that allows our community to come together in new 

ways. All games developed during the SAAM Arcade 2021 Game Jam will be made 

available to play on itch.io starting August 8 for you to play, revisit, and enjoy indefinitely. 

8/8/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Beyond the Studio 

Virtual Workshop: 

Hand-Lettering 

with Madelyne 

Adams

Venture beyond the studio for an introduction to hand lettering with DC-based designer 

and muralist Madelyne Adams, the hands behind Good Letters Design. During this 

engaging Zoom workshop participants will cover the basics of hand lettering, learn the 

fundamentals behind planning and composition, and put their design skills to the test to 

create a custom piece of stationery. Adams has designed for the Recording Industry 

Association of America, National Building Museum, Denver Smith Foundation, City State 

Brewing, Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., and more.

8/15/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Podcast Release: 

Luce Listening Party 

with Hometown 

Sounds 

and Flowerbomb

Luce Unplugged has gone digital! SAAM’s Luce Foundation Center has teamed 

up with Paul Vodra and Anthony Porecco of local music podcast Hometown Sounds to 

feature music and conversations from DC artists. Tune in for an 

episode featuring alternative rock band, Flowerbomb and listen to how they use saturated 

guitars, ornate rhythms, and delicately raw lyrics to create a nostalgic soundscape. Their 

debut album, Pretty Dark, takes on complex themes like sexuality, gender, trauma, loss, 

and healing. 

8/27/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Beyond the Studio 

Virtual Workshop: 

Block Printing with 

Lauren Emeritz

Venture beyond the studio with the Smithsonian American Art Museum for this engaging 

virtual workshop. Participants draw, carve, and print with their own custom stamp 

alongside DC-based graphic designer, letterpress printer, and book artist Lauren Emeritz. 

Emeritz is president and creative director at the graphic design firm Abstract Orange in 

Washington, DC and teaches printing and design at the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in 

Hyattsville, Maryland. In 2016, her hand-printed and bound book, Hand Carved Alphabet, 

was acquired by the Library of Congress Rare Books and Special Collections.

9/12/2021 Completed Women No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Clarice Smith 

Virtual Lecture with 

Fred Wilson

Take a journey lead by the creative powerhouse, Fred Wilson, during this captivating 

virtual lecture. Listen as he traces his artistic career and process through many decades, 

mediums, and techniques. Wilson is known for challenging assumptions of history, culture, 

race, and conventions of display by reframing objects and cultural symbols, altering 

traditional interpretations, and encouraging viewers to reconsider social and historical 

narratives. From his earliest museum intervention, Mining the Museum (1992–93), to his 

selection at the American Pavilion of the 2003 Venice Biennale, a newfound practice in 

glassworks, and most recently, a project titled “Afro Kismet,” which comprises glassworks, 

museums, and the history of Venice and Istanbul, Wilson is known for making his mark on 

the American and international art and craft world. The Smithsonian American Art 

Museum is honored to include his 2013 glass and woodwork piece I Saw Othello’s Visage 

In His Mind in our collection and host him as the first speaker in our annual series, the 

Clarice Smith Distinguished Lectures in American Art.

9/15/2021 Completed African Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Podcast Release: 

Luce Listening Party 

with Hometown 

Sounds and Night 

Train 357

Luce Unplugged has gone digital! SAAM’s Luce Foundation Center has teamed up with 

Paul Vodra and Anthony Porecco of local music podcast Hometown Sounds to feature 

music and conversations from DC artists. Tune in for an episode featuring emcee Night 

Train 357. Train, winner of the 2021 Wammie award for Best Rap Album, is an emcee who 

combines wordplay, pop culture references, and socially conscious topics with a touch of 

nerd rap. SAAM is celebrating 10 years of Luce Unplugged and our local music community! 

Check out our anniversary page and enjoy performance recordings, interviews, and special 

content highlighting the amazing local musicians who have performed in the Luce 

Foundation Center as part of this beloved concert series.

9/24/2021 Completed African Americans No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Audience

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Building Your 

Future in a 

Changing Museum 

World

Museums are powered by professionals with wide-ranging backgrounds—from historians 

and scientists to accountants, attorneys, computer programmers, and graphic designers. 

Join staff members from the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and Smithsonian 

Gardens for an engaging virtual conversation about the changing landscape of the 

museum field and the need for greater diversity among the professional staff. Discuss your 

passions, studies, and experience with practicing museum professionals during this 

informational session. The program starts with a panel discussion with Smithsonian staff 

discussing their unique career paths, followed by breakout sessions where representatives 

from an array of departments—including conservation, visitor services, education, 

publications, and more—offer advice and guidance to aspiring museum professionals

9/29/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

College/University

Masters

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Eye Level blogs

Making the Most: In the Studio with Carolyn Crump; Using Science to Uncover Secrets of 

Alma Thomas; Into the Community: A New Exhibition Explores a Changing American 

Neighborhood; A Brush with History: Good Hair Advice Is Never Out of Style; Chicanx 

Graphic Arts in Focus: Between the Leopard and the Jaguar; Exhibition Showcases How 

Artists Challenge Mythic Conceptions of the American West; Podcast Release: Music and 

Conversation with Bartees Strange; Chicanx Graphic Arts in Focus: RIFA, 

from Méchicano 1977 Calendario; Leslie Thornton and the Art of Surviving; Chicanx Artists 

on Sharing Knowledge and Building Community; Making the Most: In the Studio with Kevin 

Pourier; New Comic Series Presents Ten Visionaries and Rule Breakers in SAAM’s 

Collection; Making William H. Johnson’s Sunflowers Bloom Again; Podcast Release: Music 

and Conversation with WAMMIE Award Winner, Flowerbomb; Connecting with Nam June 

Paik’s Electronic Superhighway; Creating Authentic Community Collaboration; Centering 

Black Youth Voices in Baltimore; Happy Birthday, Alma Thomas.

7/1/2021 - 

9/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Latino Initiative 

Pool (LIP) Grant 

Award for Judy 

Baca Mural

SAAM's Conservation Department has been awarded $60,000 by LIP Grant for the 

examination, research, and treatment of a six-panel mural by Judy Baca, The Uprising of 

the Mujeres, which was newly acquired in 2019 from the artist. The project will include 

collaborative research with curatorial on the mural's history and meaning, as well as 

programing through a progressive series of blog postings, social media postings, time-lapse 

video, and converse with a conservator programing and in person if possible (lecture/tour 

spring/summer 2022). 

9/2021 - 9/2022 In-progress

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

No Collections Program Other Programming for Adults

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Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Latino Initiative 

Pool (LIP) Grant 

Award for Warren 

Hunter Mural

SAAM's Conservation Department has been awarded $60,000 by LIP grant for the 

examination, research and treatment of the mural painting South Texas Panorama (Mural 

from Alice, TX Post Office) by Warren Hunter (1939). The grant covers the offsite 

conservation treatment at a contracted conservation studio to remove lead adhesive from 

the reverse, line, and prepare the work for installation in the galleries in 2023/24 with new 

interpretive elements. Curatorial research will be done in collaboration with the 

contracted conservator and LCC paintings conservators. Eye level blogpost and converse 

with a conservator programing planned.

9/2021 - 9/2022 In-progress

African Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

No Collections Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Traveling Exhibition 

"Ginny Ruffner: 

Reforestation of 

the Imagination"

"Ginny Ruffner: Reforestation of the Imagination," a traveling exhibition organized by 

SAAM, opened at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts on September 18, 2021 and closes on 

December 6, 2021.

9/18/2021 - 

12/6/2021 In-progress

Individuals with Disabilities

Women

No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Museum Loan

One Laura Wheeler Waring painting and three Alma Thomas paintings were lent to the 

Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, VA for their traveling exhibition "Alma Thomas: 

Everything is Beautiful" opening at the Chrysler, and then traveling to the Phillips 

Collection, the Frist Museum, and the Columbus Museum of Art, July 9, 2021 through 

September 25, 2022.

7/9/2021-

9/25/2022 In-progress

African Americans

Women

No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Museum Loan

Two Alma Thomas paintings were lent to the Kennedy Center for their 50th Anniversary 

exhibition, August 31, 2021 through August 31, 2022.

8/31/2021 - 

8/31/2022 In-progress

African Americans

Women

No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Museum Loan

Joan Mitchell's "My Landscape II" was lent to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for 

their exhibition "Joan Mitchell" which traveled to the Baltimore Museum of Art and the 

Foundation Louis Vuitton, September 4, 2021 through February 27, 2023.

9/4/2021 - 

2/27/2023 In-progress Women No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Museum Loan

Three Josephine Joy paintings were lent to the High Museum of Art for their exhibition 

"Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America" which traveled to the 

Brandywine River Museum, August 21, 2021 through February 5, 2023.

8/21/2021 - 

2/5/2023 In-progress Women No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM Museum Loan

Doris Lee's "Harvest Time" was lent to the Westmorland Museum of Art for their 

exhibition "Simple Pleasures: The Art of Doris Lee" which traveled to the Vero Beach 

Museum of Art, the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and the Figge Art Museum, September 26, 

2021 through January 15, 2023.

9/26/2021 - 

1/15/2023 In-progress Women No Exhibitions Program Other Programming for Adults

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Category

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Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Teacher Workshop: 

Alma Thomas: 

Teacher, Artist, 

Trailblazer, 

Inspiration

Smithsonian Educator's Day Session offered in collaboration with SAAM's Lunder 

Conservation Center

9/17/2021 Completed African Americans

Women

No

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Education Program: 

Recording a 

Changing Nation

This teaching resource uses images from the NEA's East Baltimore Photo Survey exhibition 

as source documents to spark sustained inquiry. The resource begins with an analysis 

activity to provide foundational visual literacy and analysis skills, then elements can be 

chosen to “stack” any of the Lesson Extensions, which uncover image complexities, their 

historical context, or the work of documenting a community. Each activity challenges 

students to access prior knowledge and apply it in a novel context.

8/10/2021 Completed African Americans No Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Education Program: 

Stamp Stories: 

Romare Bearden

A recorded conversation with National Postal Museum educator about Romare Bearden 

supported by objects in the National Postal Museum collection and the Smithsonian 

American Art Museum collection.

9/21/2021 Completed African Americans No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Teacher Workshop: 

Asian Pacific 

American History: 

Challenging 

Propaganda

Teacher workshop for Latter Day Saints homeschool teachers offered in collaboration with 

the Asian Pacific American Center 6/4/2021 Completed Asian AmericansNative Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders No

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

America InSight 

Verbal Description 

Virtual Program

A virtual adaptation of SAAM's collection tours for visitors who are blind or have low vision 

enabling them to discover highlights from SAAM's collection through rich verbal 

description and sensory experience. 

9/2/2021 Completed Individuals with Disabilities No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Diversity 

Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Teacher Workshop: 

The Smithsonian 

Summer Sessions 

for Teachers: 

Interrogating the 

Stories We Tell

Virtual pan-Smithsonian Institution teacher workshop on broadening perspectives and 

uncovering silenced stories. 

6/28/2021 - 

8/14/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

No

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Teacher Workshop: 

Looking Out, 

Looking In: Writing 

Inspired by 

American Art 

Creative writing session for University of Maryland's Writing Project Virtual Summit, 

focused on works by Palmer Hayden and Carmen Lomas Garza 8/17/2021 Completed African AmericansHispanics

No

Teacher Workshops

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

American Art 

Moments Video 

Series: Nam June 

Paik's Electronic 

Superhighway

This episode of the "American Art Moments" video series highlighting object in the SAAM 

collection, features curator Saisha Grayson discussing Paik's video installation "Electronic 

Superhighway: Continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii."

8/26/2021 Completed Asian Americans No

Education

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM IDEA Newsletter SAAM's IDEA Task Force newsletter, issue 4, Fall 2021 Fall 2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Newsletter Program Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Distance Learning: 

Artful Connections, 

African American 

Artists

Live distance lesson taught by volunteer presenters via Zoom or other online connection 

platform. The lives of African American artists lend insight into the context of their works. 

Learn about the diverse body of artwork created by African American artists and the 

historical, social, and cultural events, as well as the life experiences, that inspired their 

work.

2012 - Ongoing In-progress African Americans No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Distance Learning: 

Artful Connections, 

American Indians

Live distance lesson taught by volunteer presenters via Zoom or other online connection 

platform. American Indians are part of the past, present, and future of the United States. 

Explore histories and cultures of some American Indians as captured by both Native and 

non-Native artists. Discuss the influence of geography, tradition, and tribal affiliation on 

contemporary Indian artists.

2012 - Ongoing In-progress Native Americans No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

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Category

Audience

Museums & 

Culture SAAM

Distance Learning: 

Artful Connections: 

Latino Art and 

Culture

Live distance lesson taught by volunteer presenters via Zoom or other online connection 

platform. The concept of a collective Latino identity began to emerge in the mid-20th 

century. Explore how Latino artists shaped the artistic movements of their day, often using 

their work to communicate with a larger public about social justice and themes of 

diversity, identity, and community.

2012 - Ongoing In-progress Hispanics No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Webinars and IG 

Live with scientists

Since March 2020, NMNH has recorded more than 90 STEM video webinars to the NMNH 

website with the purpose of inspiring people of all ages to better understand the natural 

world and our place in it, by instilling a sense of wonder and responsibility through 

exhibitions, programs, and online resources.

FY 2020 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Summer Institute 

in Museum 

Anthropology 

(SIMA) 

The Summer Institute in Museum Anthropology (SIMA) at the Smithsonian seeks to 

promote broader and more effective use of museum collections – artifacts, audio 

recordings, art works, still and moving images - in anthropological research by providing 

graduate students with an immersive, four-week training program and research 

experience at the Smithsonian Institution. In addition, fellowships are awarded to teaching 

faculty who are interested in learning how to incorporate museum collections into their 

teaching. The program is offered by the Department of Anthropology at the Smithsonian’s 

National Museum of Natural History, with major funding from the Cultural Anthropology 

Program and the Documenting Endangered Language Program of the National Science 

Foundation.

FY 2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

College/University

Masters

PhD

Science & 

Research NMNH

Executive and 

Senior Leadership 

Development

Executive Team, ET is preparing themselves for leading the museum to accomplish the 

goals of the new NMNH 5 Year Strategic Plan, and the plan for Inclusion, Diversity, Equity 

and Inclusion, IDEA The ET and IDEA Council leadership engaged in initial steps to prepare 

themselves to build workplace efficacy by first understanding the status of their own 

individual and team cultural competence. Each member was administered the 

Intercultural Development Inventory, IDI; received 1:1 consultation feedback and 

individual and a group profile. They are creating their development plans to be 

implemented beginning 2n QTR, in FY22 22, which will include at a minimum a series of 

training in a cohort forma At least 3/4ths of the senior staff are targeted to go through 

the IDA and follow on training in FY22. 

5/2021 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Training

Leadership Training

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

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Science & 

Research NMNH

Published the 

NMNH Plan for 

Inclusion, Diversity, 

Equity & 

Accessibility

The IDEA Plan was published in March 2021. It was developed in partnership with the 

NMNH Executive Team, Advisory Board and IDEA Council, by and for the NMNH 

community to articulate our goals for creating a more inclusive, diverse, equitable and 

accessible environment for all, and to articulate the concrete steps we will take to achieve 

those goals. 

FY21 - FY26 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes IDEA Strategic Plan

Program

Supplier

Workforce

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

NMNH Survey on 

Internal 

Perceptions of 

Inclusion Diversity 

Equity and 

Accessibility

The IDEA Council obtained SOAR professional services to conduct a study to determine 

the status of internal perceptions of IDEA at NMNH. The feedback aided in guiding the 

design and content of the NMNH 5 Year Strategic Plan, and the IDEA Implementation Plan 

as well as identified critical success factors for the IDEA plan. Represented Respondents: 

All staff who work in NMNH buildings NHB, MSC and MSFP Florida. SF, SIL and external 

affiliated staff who work in our buildings; contractors, volunteers and academic 

appointees. Surveys were distributed electronically and available physically in NHB and 

MSC for essential personnel. Also included retired/emeritus, affiliated agency , academic, 

other SI staff, contractors and volunteers.

1/25/2021 - 

2/12/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Survey/Assessment/Study

Program

Workforce

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

NMNH strategic 

Plan 2021-2025 - 

Our World Our 

Future

".....Our task as the national museum is to harness these emerging innovations and apply 

them to help solve environmental and social challenges." Central to this plan is 

establishing an inclusive culture that actively promotes creativity and diversity and 

strengthen our mission-enabling operations, facilities and relationships. Cultural 

development is a theme that runs through all aspects of the NMNH enterprise.

2021 - 2025 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Five-Year Organizational 

Strategic Plan

Program

Supplier

Workforce

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Senate of Scientist 

Committee on 

Diversity, 

Antiracism and 

Belonging

Created two internal staff conversations on advancing equity and inclusion in NMNH 

sciences and the workplace. One was delivered on 2/17/21 Guest Speaker Desiree 

Adaway, the Adaway Group, on Building a Culture of Equity and Inclusion in Science. The 

summarized event and the after session assessment is attached. The second event is 

planned for 10/7/21 Mentoring and Diversity a moderated panel discussion with internal 

and external panelist. Also included affiliated NMNH staff.

11/1/2020 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Conferences w/Colleges or 

Universities

Education

Program

Supplier

Workforce

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Science & 

Research NMNH

NMNH Science 

Visiting Committee 

Study - Action 

Led by the Associate Director for Science, the NMNH launched and is in the process of 

implementing the newly designed science organizational strategy to improve workplace 

culture to evolve to a functionally diverse teams that encourage IDEA for everyone. In FY 

21 the structure was designed , approved and implementation began. A number of 

Science Visiting Committee Task Forces are acting in a number of focus areas; framed by 

the work of the Science Culture Task Force other task force include; Science Vision, Big 

Ideas, Collections Based, Equipment Facilities, Partnerships, Science Communications, and 

Science Funding. Also included affiliated staff and academic appointees.

FY21 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Organizational Development 

Strategy and Reporting Initiative

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Career Growth 

Coaching Training 

Supervisor training and coaching on how to effectively coach their supervisees through 

career growth planning and execution in an equitable and inclusive way. Learning cultural 

competence and other principles to disrupt unconscious bias and create environments for 

career growth opportunities that support the NMNH mission. The test pilot program with 

pre and post assessments was conducted. A live training course with pre and post 

assessment was completed. The course was created and tested to become a regular part 

of a NMNH onboarding process. Supervisors participated in professional cohort coaching 

sessions tracking and guiding them through implementing the principles learned. 

12/1/2020 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

LGBTQIA+

Women

Yes

Training

Virtual Programming

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Unlearning Racism 

in Geoscience 

(URGE; 

www.urgeoscience.

org)

NMNH geoscientist are actively involved in the work of URGE. build coalitions and partnering with 

other geoscientist and organizations to advance DEAI. A museum team of Paleo/MinSci staff created a 

DEAI poster and submitted it to the Geological Society of America professional meeting happening in 

Oct. 2021. Poster is attached. URGE helps geoscientists design and implement anti-racist policies within 

their workplaces. URGE aims to guide geoscientists as they (1) use existing literature, expert opinions, 

personal experiences, and group discussions to develop anti-racist policies, (2) share, discuss, and 

modify anti-racist policies within a dynamic community network and on a national stage, and (3) design 

processes to implement and assess the effectiveness of anti-racist policies. Since January 2021, 

approximately 4500 geoscientists and 300 groups (known as pods) representing geoscience lab groups, 

departments, organizations, institutions, professional societies, government agencies, and others have 

participated in the program. URGE is the largest belonging, accessibility, justice, equity, diversity, and 

inclusivity (BeAJEDI) initiative in Geoscience. Between January-May 2021, URGE guided geoscientists as 

they used scholarly articles, expert opinions, and personal experiences to draft six anti-racist policies 

and resources for their workplaces. From September 2021 to July 2022, URGE will continue supporting 

and creating networks for Geoscientists of Color, work closely with participants to refine the policies 

and resources they developed during the program, provide opportunities for participants to support 

URGE through the purchase of merchandise, host anti-racism sessions at national conferences, liaise 

with leaders at participants’ workplaces, and communicate the vision and findings of URGE through 

invited department seminars, interviews, and scholarly publications.

1/2021 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Advisory Boards

Collections

Conferences w/Colleges or 

Universities

Conferences w/Professional 

Organizations

Digital Promotion of Academic 

Appointments

Digital Promotion of Job 

Opportunities

Education

Fellowships

Internships

Memorandums of 

Understanding Formal

Memorandums of 

Understanding Informal

Recruitment

Training

Policy 

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Science & 

Research NMNH

Access and 

Outreach Created and provided subtitles for the narrated virtual tours. FY2021 - Ongoing

Completed Hispanics Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Science & 

Research NMNH

Museum 

Reopening 

Accessibility 

Training

 Training provided to new and returning staff on how to engage with visitors with 

disabilities within the context of the current pandemic. 6/2021 Completed Individuals with Disabilities Yes Training Program Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Office of Education 

Outreach and 

Visitor Experience 

IDEA Initiative

In FY 2021 personnel in the NMNH Office of Education, Outreach, and Visitor Experience 

(EOVE) began holding conversations about barriers to inclusion, diversity, equity, and 

access (IDEA) and opportunities within the department and its educational practice. They 

formed a department IDEA working group to discuss and provide recommendations to the 

department’s leadership. With the hiring of a new Assistant Director of EOVE in 2021, the 

leadership has consulted with the broader NMNH IDEA Council for guidance and 

coordination and begun the process of reviewing and prioritizing the recommendations. 

FY2021 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Advisory Boards

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

NMNH Office of 

Advancement 

Conversations 

Series

In FY 2021 the Advancement team conducted a series of self led and facilitated 

conversations around racial inequality, dominant cultural norms, how various systems of 

oppression show up in the workplace, and how we can address these issues in our 

department and in our own lives. Team members choose the topics and resources, as well 

as lead the discussions.

FY2021 - 

Ongoing

In-Progress

Asian Americans

LGBTQIA+

Women

No

Training

Virtual Programming

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Connecting Science 

Communities 

Project - With GMU

Though the science research and policy developed in Washington, D.C., has a global reach, 

little is known about the impact of D.C.’s science institutions, such as NMNH, on 

neighborhoods and communities in their own backyard. In 2020, the George Washington 

University Graduate School of Education and Human Development launched a new Ed.D 

Program that has established a Research-Practice Team (RPT) with the NMNH Office of 

Education, Outreach, and Visitor Experience aimed to integrate research and practice in 

science education in Washington, D.C. The GWU doctoral students will conduct the first indepth study about DC residents’ relationships with science and science museums in their 

communities. In the first year (academic year 2020-21), the five students were immersed 

in the work of the museum and the research relevant to the problem of practice, as well 

as getting basic instruction in research methods. Due to the pandemic, the work was 

conducted virtually. They held several meetings with key NMNH staff before the end of 

the spring semester, and they have all started their IRBs for GWU review. Project Title: 

“Connecting Science Communities"

Ongoing 

2020-2024 

In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education;#Memorandums of 

Understanding Formal

Research Associates

Education Research Practice 

Partnership

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Science & 

Research NMNH Pollinators Project 

The Pollinators Project is a community/citizen science project designed to support and 

sustain pollinators through the planting of pollinator gardens adjacent to existing 

community gardens. In alignment with the NMNH Strategic Goal, Deepen existing 

partnerships and develop new partnerships to increase engagement and outreach to local 

communities and pilot community programs that empower local residents and can be 

scaled up for national audiences. NMNH Education Outreach and Visitor Experience is 

leads the Museum's collaboration and work in this citizen science project along with: DC 

Partnership: Anacostia Community Museum and DC PolliNation; St. Louis Partners: Project 

Lab St. Loui and Gateway Greening; Data collected (quantitative and qualitative): diversity 

and number of pollinators, garden yields, understanding of the role pollinators; and, 

Creation of living classrooms for schools and communities.

Ongoing 2021 In-Progress Residents of Under-resourced Communities Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Family Friendly 

Workplace 

Committee (FFWC) 

The Family Friendly Workplace Committee (FFWC) of the Senate of Scientists was formed 

in February, 2018. The FFWC is an advisory group to the NMNH senior leadership and 

advocates for a family-friendly environment for the entire NMNH community. We 

recognize that a supportive workplace culture improves retention of staff members who 

are raising families, can lead to higher productivity on the job. The FFWC shares 

information, announces SI sponsored family-friendly social events, organizes informal 

gatherings, supports initiatives to advance a family friendly environment for the NMNH 

community when appropriate, and otherwise facilitates communication among NMNH 

parents to build a sense of community and raise awareness of relevant policies. A FFWC 

handbook is in draft and under review. The document will provide staff access to a 

consolidated view of relevant SI support services and resources. 

2018 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Employee Affinity Groups Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

Our Shared Future: 

Reckoning with Our 

Racial Past RWORP

Appointed Tracey Renshaw as museum liaison. Provided initiative leads with various 

museum knowledge leads and collaborations proceeded and are ongoing. 2020 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

Yes

Collections

Public Programming

Repatriation Consultations

Research Associates

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Diversity 

Category

Audience

Science & 

Research NMNH

Collections 

Histories for 

Accountability and 

Transparency 

(CHAT) Working 

Group 

The NMNH Collection Program Technicians formed a small working group of NMNH 

collections technicians to carry out their charter: "We believe in bringing equity and 

access to the museum and collections through collaboration and transparency. More 

transparency is needed to contextualize the social spheres in which our objects and 

specimens were collected, brought to the museum, studied, and continue to be preserved. 

We want to highlight the forgotten, obscure, and too often erased histories of those who 

have contributed their time and energy in service to the museum and its mission. As a first 

step, our group proposes a project to research and collate histories and biographies of 

collectors and donors using primary and secondary sources, as well as archives, in 

consultation with experts from within the museum. We have built relationships across the 

museum and throughout the Smithsonian, and as part of the Collections Program, we 

strive towards serving all audiences. They have presented their charter and proposal at the 

SI Share Fair, the NMNH Council for I.D.E.A. and other groups of interest.

2021 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

Yes Collections Program

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NMNH

How to Have a 

Conversation 

About Race Center 

for Creative 

Leadership

A two part webinar that continues to be available for people who attended. Part I. 

Ancella Livers, an expert in the field of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the author of 

“Leading in Black and White,” and Nicole Forward of our executive coaching practice 

explore 3 essential concepts that you must understand before the conversation about race 

can be meaningful: trust, identity, and power. Part 2, discover how to be attuned to the 

Center for Creative Leadership's conversational framework — listen to understand; ask 

powerful questions; challenge and support; and establish next steps on having powerful 

and effective conversations about race.

4/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Women

No Training Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NZP-SCBI

Virginia Working 

Landscapes (Citizen 

Science/Communit

y)

Virginia Working Landscapes scientists strive to protect Virginia’s rich biodiversity by conducting 

research and empowering local community members to take conservation action. The program is based 

at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, and began in 2010 in 

response to grassroots demand for native plant and wildlife conservation from private landowners, 

conservation NGOs and local citizens. Through research, education and community engagement, the 

program promotes the conservation of native biodiversity and sustainable land-use. VWL researchers 

collaborate with citizen scientists, NGOs, universities, regional landowners and others to conduct 

research on private and public lands with a focus on biodiversity, ecosystem services and threatened 

species. Current projects include: Understanding how human activities influence the movement 

patterns of Virginia’s carnivores Exploring how urban development impacts bumblebee populations 

Identifying relationships between native plants, land management and wildlife. In addition to engaging 

and educating local landowners about biodiversity, these studies help delineate conservation priorities. 

Collected data can also guide land-use strategies by revealing how land-management decisions by 

private citizens, organizations and policymakers impact wildlife, water and landscapes.

FY21 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Science & 

Research NZP-SCBI

Neighborhood Nest 

watch (Citizen 

Science/Communit

y)

Habitat degradation in and around cities is a widespread threat to wildlife, including migratory birds. At 

the same time, people living in these areas risk becoming further detached from the natural systems on 

which they depend. Neighborhood Nest watch is an innovative way to study the effects of rapid 

development on wildlife, while also educating citizens about the scientific process and human impact 

on wildlife. Accessing private properties in the course of urban ecology studies can be a major obstacle. 

Neighborhood Nest watch overcomes this through its "house-call" approach, where each backyard or 

schoolyard involved becomes an outdoor classroom and research site. Participants are not only inspired 

to learn about local wildlife, but are also mentored to become citizen scientists in their own 

neighborhoods. Nest watch focuses on two basic life-history traits: annual survival and reproductive 

success. During an annual site visit, where scientists visit participants, birds are temporarily captured 

and then released. Their measurements are taken, a unique combination of color bands are placed on 

their legs and their nests are located. The colored bands allow participants to easily recognize a bird 

that returns to the yard. After a site visit, participants keep track of the birds they re-sight. The data 

they collect reflects how long a bird lived in their yard and the surrounding area. Data recorded about a 

bird's nest sheds light on how well birds are able to reproduce within an area. By submitting their 

observations, participants help Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center scientists understand how 

successfully different species are surviving across a range of environments that are impacted by people.

FY21 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research NZP-SCBI

Conservation 

Discovery Day

Designed for sixth-graders to under-grads, this event includes hands-on activities, research 

demonstrations and career panel discussions with our scientists and animal care staff. This 

is the perfect event for budding biologists and curious conservationists!

10/5/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Science & 

Research SAO

Spectrum Lab 

Curriculum

The Spectrum Lab will be an online, interactive learning environment that enables 

students to make use of the database of publicly available spectra from research scientists, 

as well as from students.

FY20 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Science & 

Research SAO

TEMPO 

Communications 

and Public 

Engagement 

Activities

TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution) is a collaboration between NASA 

and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. The TEMPO mission is building a network 

of museums and public gardens across the country that will engage learners in hands-on 

activities and develop their citizen science skills, enabling them to contribute quantitative 

and qualitative data on local air quality impact to the overall scientific community. 

FY20 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

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Diversity 

Category

Audience

Science & 

Research SAO

Chandra 

Communications 

and Public 

Engagement 

Activities

The goals are to open access for anyone to be a learner and explorer of the Universe, to 

share new discoveries about the Universe with diverse audiences, engage the imaginations 

of students, teachers, and the greater public, and increase learning opportunities.

FY20 - Ongoing In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Science & 

Research SAO

Smithsonian 

Astrophysical 

Observatory Latino 

Initiative Program

The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Latino Initiative Program (SAO/LIP) is an 

internship program for talented undergraduate science majors who participate in the 

Urban Massachusetts Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Programs 

located on the campuses of the University of Massachusetts. Partnering with the 

University of Massachusetts (UMASS) since 2015, the Smithsonian Astrophysical 

Observatory (SAO) provides both a summer and academic-year internship experience for 6 

students annually.

6/7/2021 - 

8/20/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Fellowships

Internships

Public Programming

Program College/University

Science & 

Research STRI

PCNC education 

program through 

webinars

Punta Culebra Nature Center (PCNC), located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, is dedicated 

to exploration and discovery of the natural world through science. The center, visited by more than 

70,000 people every year, offers a mix of marine and amphibian exhibits, walking trails, hands-on 

science activities and recreational spaces, all in a spectacular setting just minutes away from Panama 

City. The Smithsonian is committed to supporting Panamanian education through online exploration 

with digital learning tools and in a physical adventure through our educational centers and external 

educational programs. The Smithsonian's digital resources are for children and youth ages 7 to 14, 

educators, and parents. These resources strengthen the interest in learning science by being exposed to 

content backed by more than 100 years of research in various formats including animated videos, 

interactive games, among others.

FY21 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Virtual Programming

Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

Science & 

Research STRI

Planning for 

Q?rioso going 

Hybrid

Designed to share a hands-on-science experience, the new, brightly-painted van will make it possible 

for kids and adults to participate in the excitement of the discovery process in cities and towns across 

Panama. In a colorful bus, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute scientists and guides will now visit 

public schools, community organizations and fairs in Panama’s cities and rural provinces as part of the 

Q?Bus program, Taking Smithsonian Science to the Street. The main goal of this program is to provide 

informal education for children and young people who have not had the opportunity to visit our 

facilities and to help to ignite their curiosity and interest in science. The name Q?Bus comes from the 

Q?Rius program started at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. 

Q?Rius will be implemented in Panama in the future under the name of Q?Rioso Panamá in a discovery 

space at the Punta Culebra Natural Center on the Amador Causeway.

FY21 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes Education Program

Elementary School (K - 5th Grade)

Middle School (6th - 8th Grade)

High School (9th - 12th Grade)

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Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Smithsonian 

Advancement 

Diversity and 

Inclusion Initiative 

Meeting

The Smithsonian Advancement Diversity and Inclusion Initiative held a meeting on January 

29, 2021. The group includes advancement staff from across the Institution. The group has 

three workgroups each focused on a different area of diversity and inclusion which are 

hiring/recruitment, internships/outreach and learning opportunities.

1/29/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Advisory Boards

Career Counseling

Career Fairs

Education

Internships

Recruitment

Training

Virtual Internships

Program

Supplier

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Job recruitment 

activities

In Q1 of FY21 the Office of Advancement used national and diversity focused job boards to 

recruit for the following positions:

1) Associate Director of Advancement, Archives of American Art

2) Major Gifts Officer, Office of Advancement

10/01/2020 - 

12/31/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Recruitment Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Job recruitment 

activities

In Q2 of FY21 the Office of Advancement used national and diversity focused job boards to 

recruit for the following positions:

1) Advancement Associate, Office of Advancement 

2) Associate Director of Advancement, Conservation Commons

3) Director of Advancement, National Portrait Gallery

01/01/2021 - 

03/31/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Recruitment Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA EEO Training

As of March 26, OA is at 100% compliance for employee and supervisor EEO training in 

FY21. 

10/1/2020-

9/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Training Workforce Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Webinar and 

Discussion

#PhilanthropySoWhite: What Is the Role of White Leaders in Philanthropy in Dismantling White 

Supremacy? In 2018, Edgar Villanueva, author of Decolonizing Wealth, moderated the first 

#PhilanthropySoWhite webinar to discuss white leaders’ role in philanthropy in supporting racial 

justice. The title raised eyebrows, but the conversations that transpired were vulnerable, truthspeaking catalysts to sector-wide discussions about the urgent need to change philanthropy’s approach 

to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a call to action for white leaders. So, more than two years of 

reckoning, uprising for racial justice, a pandemic, and a turbulent election - where do white leaders in 

the sector find themselves and their leadership regarding racial justice in and outside of their 

organizations? Philanthropy remains so white, but progress has been made, and there have been some 

interesting learnings on the journey. During this hour long session, we’ll explore areas of progress, the 

pain points of the journey, and what the next two to four years might look like specifically for white 

leaders in philanthropy working to create anti-racist organizations and giving practices representative 

and inclusive of the communities and cultures that it serves. Vanessa Daniel, Founder and Executive 

Director of the Groundswell Fund, will offer an end of session reflection and response to the discussion 

on confronting whiteness in philanthropy. 

4/6/2021 Planned

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Yes Training Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

UDC Job and 

Internships Virtual 

Fair

The Outreach and Recruitment Workgroup of the Smithsonian Advancement Diversity and 

Inclusion Initiative is registered to participate in the UDC Job and Internships Virtual Fair. 

This free virtual career event is an exclusive opportunity to recruit talented UDC students 

and alumni from over 81 academic majors and programs of study for your employment 

opportunities including full-time jobs, part-time jobs, internships, and other positions. The 

schedule will include a combination of group and one-on-one sessions.

4/8/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Career Fairs

Internships

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Advancement OA

 Smithsonian 

Advancement 

Diversity and 

Inclusion Initiative 

Meeting

The Smithsonian Advancement Diversity and Inclusion Initiative held a meeting on April 

19, 2021. The group includes advancement staff from across the Institution. The group has 

three workgroups each focused on a different area of diversity and inclusion which are 

hiring/recruitment, internships/outreach and learning opportunities.

4/19/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Career Counseling

Career Fairs

Education

Internships

Recruitment

Virtual Internships

Virtual Programming

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Early Career and 

Internship Fair

The Outreach and Recruitment Workgroup of the Smithsonian Advancement Diversity and 

Inclusion Initiative participated in an Early Career and Internship Fair hosted by American 

University. Several colleges and universities participated in the event including Johns 

Hopkins University, University of Maryland, George Washington University, Georgetown 

University, American University, Howard University and Catholic University. This virtual 

career event is an exclusive opportunity to recruit talented students and alumni for 

employment opportunities including full-time jobs, part-time jobs, internships, and other 

positions. The schedule included a combination of group and one-on-one sessions. We 

reached over 50 students at our sessions. 

05/25/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Career Fairs

Internships

Workforce

College/University

Masters

PhD

Advancement OA

Howard University 

Fall 2021 Virtual All 

Majors Job & 

Internship Fair

The Howard University Center for Career and Professional Success (Office of Career 

Services) wants you to connect virtually with students and alumni at the Howard 

University Fall 2021 Virtual All Majors Job & Internship Fair including graduate and 

professional schools) to meet your recruiting needs. Please complete and answer all 

applicable questions in the registration form including additional questions to complete 

your registration for the fair.

9/28/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Career Fairs Workforce

College/University

Masters

Advancement OA

Campaign 

Messaging 

Engagement

Engaged two firms – one women-owned and the other minority- and women-owned – to 

develop messaging for a targeted fundraising campaign that captures the complexity, 

diversity and full breadth of the Smithsonian to broaden and reach a more inclusive donor 

audience. Launching this fall, the campaign will address pressing global needs to elevate 

critical conversations and work in democracy, education, equity, access, climate change, 

global health and more. 

5/1/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Advancement 

Communications 

Content

Advanced diversity, accessibility and inclusion throughout all fundraising communications, including 

IMPACT, si.edu/support, annual report, monthly e-newsletter, and email cultivation series. Content was 

shared across all platforms. Examples include: 

• The November 2020 IMPACT cover story Healing A Nation focused on the initiative, Our Shared 

Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past, illustrating how the Smithsonian is helping the nation 

remember the historic year of 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest and provide 

historical context.

• Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan was featured as a catalyst for fundraising. The bank’s 

transformative $25 million commitment established the Our Shared Future initiative, enabling the 

Smithsonian to elevate conversations around race, equity and justice in all aspects of American society. 

• The Moments of Innovation comic chronicled ways the Smithsonian innovated since its history to 

expand the institutions reach and audiences (Museum on Main Street), deepen its content to include a 

more complete American story (the National Museum of African American History and Culture) and 

partner with Caina (panda diplomacy) to save species. 

• Our Foundation is Our Future collection, featured in January IMPACT and in August e-news, looks 

back on the Smithsonian’s 175 years and looking ahead to our current and future projects. 

• The Art of Collecting, featured in November IMPACT and April e-news, explores how Smithsonian 

curators faced a new set of challenges and sense of responsibility this year collecting during the 

pandemic and protests for racial justice.

10/1/2020 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Unit Cases for 

Support and 

Proposals

Developed unit cases for support and proposals, including: 

• Reaching Every Classroom, a case for support for the Asian American Pacific Center’s 

education initiative to counter anti-Asian hate. 

• Transforming America, Addressing Racial Inequality One Community at a Time, a case for 

support for the Anacostia Community Museum’s five-year project that looks at how racial 

inequality influences the lives of everyday people in Anacostia and across the country. 

• Photographing Native Life, a proposal for the National Museum of the American Indian 

to expand the museum’s photography collections to tell a more accurate story of Native 

peoples. 

10/1/2020 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Public Programming Program Other Programming for Adults

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Virtual 

Programming

Advanced diverse stories and educational programs through virtual programming to our donors and 

volunteer leaders. Examples include: 

• The Fall 2020 SNB meeting featured a spotlight session focusing on how the Smithsonian was able to 

quickly develop and share distance learning resources during the pandemic and the new focus on 

reaching audiences without digital access by distributing high-touch (print) resources to rural 

communities. 

• The second Fall 2020 spotlight session by the project manager for SITES’ The Bias Inside Us, a traveling 

exhibit that informs visitors on implicit bias and aims to convene dialogue, increase empathy, and 

create more inclusive schools, communities, and workplaces.

• In Dec 2020, hosted webinar on the anniversary of the 19th amendment establishing women’s 

suffrage with leadership from NMAH. 

• The Spring 2021 SNB meeting featured an interactive activity with educators from the National 

Museum of the American Indian, New York, and learned through Native Knowledge 360 (NK360). 

• The second Spring 2021 spotlight session featured SITES’ work across the country to bring cultural 

resources and programming to local communities and focused on ACM’s efforts in the DC area to 

highlight disparities within communities undergoing social and economic change and how they become 

a convener for sharing ideas and catalyst for a more equitable future.

10/1/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Public Programming

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Advisory Board 

Diversity

In February 2021, the Office of Advancement and Regents’ Office convened a special 

Advisory Board Chair meeting with a presentation from the American Alliance of Museums 

on best practices and national trends on museum board diversity, equity, accessibility and 

inclusion.

2/1/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Advisory Boards Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA Digital Outreach

Continued “Your Smithsonian, Anywhere” email series sharing diverse and digitally 

accessible content—including Pride month, NMAH’s Girlhood exhibition, at-home family 

activities and digital exhibitions—through OA email list (approx. 200k subscribers)

10/1/2020 Completed

LGBTQIA+

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Virtual Programming

Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Diversity Summit 

with Georgetown 

and George 

Washington 

Universities

This workshop will provide staff with an opportunity to learn how to create a welcoming 

workplace and foster environments that are inclusive – at the Smithsonian, we are 

committed to the fair and equal treatment of all individuals. We will explore how we 

respond to everyday behaviors and actions that are subtle and often automatic. One 

comment alone can be minimally impactful, but when these occur continuously 

throughout a lifespan, research clearly demonstrates that their cumulative nature has 

detrimental consequences. We will explore the science (why?); then how to recognize 

(where?); and critically, how to call in the behaviors and mitigate (how?). 

10/14/2020 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Conferences w/Colleges or 

Universities

Education

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Discussion and 

Conversation

Follow-up discussion and conversation with staff about the #PhilanthropySoWhite 

Webinar: What Is the Role of White Leaders in Philanthropy in Dismantling White 

Supremacy?

During this hour-long session, we’ll explore areas of progress, the pain points of the 

journey, and what the next two to four years might look like specifically for white leaders 

in philanthropy working to create anti-racist organizations and giving practices 

representative and inclusive of the communities and cultures that it serves. Vanessa 

Daniel, Founder and Executive Director of the Groundswell Fund, will offer an end of 

session reflection and response to the discussion on confronting whiteness in 

philanthropy.

4/16/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Education Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Steps to Take to 

Diversify Your 

Donors Webinar

This session, the first in a series of three webinars on how nonprofits can diversify their 

pools of supporters, features a panel of African American experts. The head of a consulting 

firm, a major donor, and a nonprofit executive director — will share their experiences 

working with Latinx, Asian, and African American donors and share key steps to take to 

cultivate a wider variety of donors and grant makers, no matter your mission. Learn why a 

diverse staff and board matters ― and how to create an organizational culture that 

advances DEI; how to identify and build trust with potential new donors of different races 

and ethnicities; and how to keep diverse supporters engaged in your work and giving 

especially during social distancing.

5/5/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Advisory Boards

Education

Training

Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA Article Study

Article Study exploring the opportunities and challenges encountered by several 

prominent museums in developing diversity and inclusion-focused operational 

frameworks. We will have an informal discussion to review four recent articles, which offer 

insights into the critical role of advancement professionals in the development and 

promotion of these initiatives, as well as potential strategies for engaging donors, 

colleagues, and the broader community in this work. 

6/2/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Advisory Boards

Training

Program Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Webinar and 

Discussion

Diversify Your Donors - How to Attract Hispanic Donors: Nonprofit leaders often overlook 

Latino donors who would give more if asked. Those who want to be more inclusive in their 

strategies often don’t know how to start. During this Chronicle of Philanthropy webinar, 

you will learn key steps to take to attract donors who identify as Hispanic or Latino/a, as 

well as grant makers that support these groups. We’ll also explain why a diverse staff and 

board matters, how to ensure communications resonate, and ways to build a broader base 

of support.

7/15/2021 Completed Hispanics No

Advisory Boards

Training

Program Other Programming for Adults

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Report

SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Smithsonian 

Advancement 

Diversity & 

Inclusion Initiative 

Meeting

The Smithsonian Advancement Community is dedicated to supporting staff, volunteers and our 

constituents through the recruitment, retention and development of a world-class team that ensures 

diversity and inclusion as a part of its culture and everyday work. This report emphasizes the activity of 

the Smithsonian advancement community’s DEAI work focused in four key areas: 

• Recruitment/Hiring - Design and develop tools that are intentional and strategic in our recruiting, 

interviewing, hiring and on-boarding processes 

• Internships/Outreach - Develop resources and methods to recruit, develop and pay a diverse pool of 

interns 

• Learning Opportunities - Provide opportunities and resources for advancement staff to learn, become 

more self-aware and reflect on personal biases 

7/26/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

Yes

Education

Internships

Recruitment

Training

Program

Supplier

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Smithsonian 

Advancement 

Diversity & 

Inclusion Initiative 

Quarterly Meeting

The Smithsonian Advancement Community is dedicated to supporting staff, volunteers 

and our constituents through the recruitment, retention and development of a world-class 

team that ensures diversity and inclusion as a part of its culture and everyday work. This 

report emphasizes the activity of the Smithsonian advancement community’s DEAI work 

focused in four key areas: 

• Recruitment/Hiring - Design and develop tools that are intentional and strategic in our 

recruiting, interviewing, hiring and on-boarding processes 

• Internships/Outreach - Develop resources and methods to recruit, develop and pay a 

diverse pool of interns 

• Learning Opportunities - Provide opportunities and resources for advancement staff to 

learn, become more self-aware and reflect on personal biases 

9/29/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Education

Internships

Recruitment

Training

Program

Workforce

Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Job Recruitment 

Activities

In Q3 of FY21 the Office of Advancement used national and diversity focused job boards to 

recruit for the following positions:

1) IT Specialist (Customer Support), Office of Advancement

2) Major Gifts Officer, Office of Advancement

4/1/2021-

6/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Recruitment Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Job Recruitment 

Activities

In Q4 of FY21 the Office of Advancement used national and diversity focused job boards to 

recruit for the following positions:

1) Associate Director of Advancement, National Museum of African Art

2) Advancement Assistant, Archives of American Art

3) Gift Officer, Freer and Sackler Galleries

4) Assistant Director of Advancement, Smithsonian Science and Education Centers

5) Director of Individual Giving, National Air and Space Museum

6) Advancement Specialist, Smithsonian American Art Museum

7) Advancement Associate, Smithsonian Women's Committee, Office of Advancement

8) Gift Registrar, Office of Advancement

7/1/2021-

9/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Recruitment Workforce Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 128 
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SI

Unit Title Description Date(s) Status UnderrepresentedGroup(s) Engaged STEM Type

Diversity 

Category

Audience

Advancement OA

Supplier Diversity 

Goals

$1,579,479.23 in Purchase Orders spent in FY21 Quarters 1-4, of which $499,604.69 

(31.63%) was awarded to Small Businesses. OA met and exceeded the 23% small business 

goal.

$1,579,479.23 in Purchase Orders spent in FY21 Quarters 1-4, of which $306,290.18 

(19.39%) was awarded to Woman Owned small businesses. OA met and exceeded the 5% 

women-owned small business goal. 

OA's Small Business Achievement:

31.63% - small business

19.39%- small, women owned business

5.99% small, disadvantaged business

0.41%- SBA 8(a) business

0%- SDVOSB- service disabled veteran owned small business 

10/1/2020 - 

9/30/2021 Completed

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No

Supporting Supplier Diversity 

Goals

Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Advancement OA

Supplier Diversity 

Program Liaisons 

Meetings

The Office of Advancement actively participated in four Supplier Diversity Program Liaisons 

Meetings in FY21. Dana Ventura is the Supplier Diversity Program Liaisons for OA. She 

participated in these pan-Institutional meetings virtually on:

October 8, 2020

April 1, 2021

June 3, 2021

August 5, 2021

10/1-2020 - 

8/5/2021 In-Progress

African Americans

Asian Americans

Hispanics

Individuals with Disabilities

LGBTQIA+

Native Americans

Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders

Residents of Under-resourced Communities

Women

No Supplier Diversity Outreach Supplier Other Programming for Adults

Smithsonian Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Report - FY 2021 Prepared by the Office of Equal Employment and Supplier Diversity 129