Diversity and Accessibility Group Meeting 6

Present: Cortez Rainey, Chair; Sarah LittleFeather, Recorder; Veronica Guzman; Aba McHardy; Hamish McLaren; Lodro Rinzler; Maria Vargas, Kia Yee.

After welcoming Aba as new member and Kai at his first meeting, Cortez stated that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Center Director and Practitioner surveys. He proceeded to talk about the Mandala Governing Council/Center Director's Meeting that he attended last month at Shambhala Mountain Center, and discussed feedback he received there concerning the surveys. Several directors suggested we use a multiple-choice answer format to cut down on the time that is needed to complete the survey. They said that it would be helpful if the survey included questions that evoke deeper thought about the issue of diversity.

Cortez said he spoke to many people who were attending other programs at SMC and felt they all are genuinely concerned about diversity and accessibility issues in our community. Many expressed frustration over how to effectively address some of the obvious diversity challenges we face. The motivation is there to do something; there’s just a question of what should be done. Cortez said this is why our work is necessary, but no matter what we end up recommending, someone is going to be uncomfortable with it. Discomfort is unavoidable in order for us to emerge from whatever cocoons we have constructed around these issues.

Cortez introduced the Center surveys for discussion by giving some history. Aba spoke at length about getting to the nitty-gritty of the situation by asking how many Meditation Instructors, Ngondro Instructors, Shambhala Guides are people of color. Her sense was that if people of color were more visibly involved in leadership, we would be more likely keep the interest of people of color—those who attend and then do not return. She felt the surveys were technical and she preferred a more personal approach. She felt we (at least here in the United States) should be emphasizing the lack of people of color and make that the primary focus as this is a major difficulty in American culture. She suggested we use the publication Turning Wheel as reference for our work and said she’d send the link to the Working Group. Aba said that after her retreat in 1996, she attempted to poll 85 Shambhala Centers about issues of diversity and about correcting the problem of so few people of color in our sangha. But she got virtually no response.

Sarah discussed the history of the Center Director and Practitioner surveys and talked about some of issues that were involved in its development, some of which are directly related to Aba's concerns. Sarah explained that when the Working Group was first established it decided this was something that needs to be done. Hamish agreed that the survey should stand (with minor corrections). He said the diversity and accessibility surveys are not a solution but a place to begin addressing this issue; that’s how Naropa University started addressing these issues. Veronica stated it was important to address these issues, but in South American culture the primary diversity problems are social class and political discrimination and that the language of the survey should reflect these issues.

Cortez said he would contact Chris Tamdjidi, Director of Shambhala Europe, to obtain his feedback on the survey. We want the survey to reflect concerns and issues of cultures outside of North America. Maria suggested that we ask the Sakyong to encourage Center directors to complete the surveys to ensure cooperation. She also suggested that we pretest of the survey.

Maria volunteered to join Cortez in completing the design of the surveys so that this phase of our work can be brought to a close. Everyone was asked to send feedback regarding the survey to all Work Group members by Friday so we can get the survey completed.

Kai mentioned that the problem of clubbyness/cliqueishness is a problem. Sarah responded that it is indeed a problem, one that Dan Hessey addressed in the treatise "Notes." Kia was told that he could find the treatise on the Shambhala Congress website.

Lodro said he thought the new energy and perspective of the group (with the addition of new members) was good. He added, however that the group needs to move forward with the survey so we can get on to other work that remains to be done. All agreed.

It was agreed that each member would reflect on their experience in the Shambhala community and bring to the next meeting 10-15 recommendations for addressing the issues of diversity and accessibility.

The next meeting will be held on Sunday, August 29th at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. After the Dedication of Merit, the meeting adjourned, at approximately 8:40 p.m.

Diversity and Accessibility Working Group

Minutes of Meeting #6 - Sunday, August 15, 2004, 7:30 p.m.