{"id":1065,"date":"2022-11-02T20:34:58","date_gmt":"2022-11-02T20:34:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/?p=1065"},"modified":"2022-11-02T20:34:58","modified_gmt":"2022-11-02T20:34:58","slug":"hows-the-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-work-going-introducing-the-growing-belonging-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/mgcoordinators\/2022\/11\/02\/hows-the-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-work-going-introducing-the-growing-belonging-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"How\u2019s the diversity, equity, and inclusion work going?\u00a0Introducing the Growing & Belonging Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This is an update in our ongoing series of the work being done in the OSU Master Gardener program of growing who we are and serve and creating a community where everyone belongs. Formerly known as the OSU Extension Master Gardener Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce, the group has a new name. Read on to learn more.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Statewide Growing & Belonging Committee?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Statewide Growing & Belonging Committee of the OSU Master Gardener Program is a group of Master Gardener volunteers and faculty from across the state dedicated to growing who we are and who we serve, and to cultivating an experience of belonging in our programs for all Oregonians.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does Growing & Belonging matter?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing & Belonging is essential to achieving the\u00a0mission and vision<\/a>\u00a0of the OSU Master Gardener Program. We need to grow who we are and who we serve in order to cultivate resilient and healthy communities and expand the reach of science-based gardening practices across Oregon.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For resilient and healthy communities, Oregon needs informed gardeners, and more of them. And just as a healthy garden is biodiverse, so too is a healthy gardening program. This means we seek to attract Oregon gardeners from all counties, backgrounds, ages, races, ethnicities, nationalities, genders, abilities, income levels, renters\/homeowners, gardening experience levels, and more.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To attract gardeners of all backgrounds, Master Gardener programs and practices must create an experience of belonging for all participants and potential participants.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why is a Growing & Belonging Committee needed?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we look at who the current Master Gardener volunteers are, we see that the make-up (age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, etc.) doesn\u2019t match the makeup of Oregonians interested in gardening. Master Gardener volunteers skew retired, landowning, female, and white. Yet we know Oregonians from many different backgrounds are interested in gardening.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whenever a group\u2019s make-up is skewed, there are reasons why that happened. Usually, structural reasons, meaning policies and practices rather than individual behaviors\u2014although those play a role too. Policies and practices that, by design, benefited some and\u00a0excluded\u00a0others. Often, the biggest reason for a group\u2019s skewed makeup has to do with the impact of these compounded over several decades.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Policies and practices of the past\u2014and many still today\u2014intentionally left some people out, based on their race, ethnicity, gender, citizenship status, and more. OSU\u2019s Master Gardener Program exists to serve the public, and that means everybody. It is our responsibility to make sure no one is left out. That requires new intentional policies and practices, and that\u2019s why the Statewide Growing & Belonging Committee is needed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the focus on Growing & Belonging new?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This focus has actually been a part of OSU and federal work for some time. A demonstrated \u201ccommitment to diversity and to ensuring equal opportunity for those wishing to benefit from OSU Extension programs and services\u201d is included in every OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteer’s position description.\u00a0 A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is also written into the position description of every OSU Extension faculty member. This work is also\u00a0an expectation of any program that receives assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The work of the Statewide Growing & Belonging Committee will help the OSU Master Gardener Program do a better job of what has long been a stated part of our roles as Master Gardener coordinators and volunteers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the values of the Statewide Growing & Belonging Committee of the OSU Master Gardener Program?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our values are the\u00a0OSU Extension Master Gardener Program Guiding Values<\/a>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are connected to Oregon State University, and use both science and local knowledge to inform our community engagement, educational outreach, and horticultural expertise. We strive to make the resources of Oregon State University accessible to all and inspire and encourage lifelong curiosity and learning through continued scientific exploration and discovery. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are connected to our local communities, and their needs drive the work of our program. We are inclusive, where everyone is welcome, respected, valued and supported. We know that collaboration and partnership with our communities, community organizations, and neighbors make us stronger and that together, we create positive change.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are connected to our earth and strive for stewardship and sustainability through horticultural best practices and a conscientious approach to volunteer work in alignment with our program priorities. We aim to improve not only the lives of the people within our communities, but also the land which sustains us, and future generations.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are driven by a sense of fun, wonder, and curiosity for the natural world and a commitment of service to our local communities.<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Statewide Growing & Belonging Committee seeks to live these values by growing who Master Gardener volunteers are and who we serve, and by cultivating an experience of belonging in our programs for all Oregonians.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is belonging? What does it have to do with gardening?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has had a moment when they felt like they didn\u2019t belong. It\u2019s not a feeling you forget.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belonging is a universal human need. In part, it\u2019s a felt sense\u2014either you experience it or you don\u2019t, based on how you\u2019re being treated. For example, if you enter a room and everyone stops talking and looks at you, you may feel like you don\u2019t belong there. But if everyone smiles at you and waves you in, if you smell a favorite food, if the music playing is familiar\u2014you would likely feel belonging.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Belonging is also structural, or about how things are set up. For example, if you need a ramp to get into a building and there are only stairs, then how the building is set up is sending a signal that you don\u2019t belong there. But if you need an interpreter at an event and one is already provided, that\u2019s (part of) structural belonging.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has also had moments when they felt like they\u00a0did<\/em>\u00a0belong. Belonging is getting to show up as your real self and be accepted by those around you. It\u2019s also getting to be a part of making decisions. All this has to do with the culture that a group chooses to cultivate. The thoughtful adjustments a group makes so everyone experiences belonging, both interpersonal and structural.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0vision\u00a0of the OSU Master Gardener Program<\/a> is to \u201cprovide accessible and equitable education programs that nurture life-long learners and volunteers who can expand the reach and impact of science-based sustainable gardening practices to benefit all Oregonians.\u201d For our programs to be truly accessible, participants need to know they will experience belonging. Otherwise, they may not decide to participate at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What explains the current Master Gardener volunteer demographics?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mostly, structural barriers. One of the biggest is access to land, which is necessary in order to garden. Let\u2019s take a look at a brief history of land\/home ownership in Oregon:<\/p>\n\n\n\n