We are developing a very intentional organizational change strategy to address organizational inequities and implement meaningful anti-racist policies and practices. This change strategy has included bringing in equity experts to guide our organizational leadership and staff to address current policies, staffing, and decision-making with the goal of making lasting systemic changes to MAP’s internal operations. This is a ongoing process to address white supremacy culture and will continue to include guidance from well regarded anti-racist experts. 

MAP is committed to practicing what we preach. Team Meetings and Board engagements are used to review progress towards incorporating a DEI strategy in all operations, including organizational practices, policies, advocacy, and training to lead to systemic change. This includes regular review of our Strategic Plan to outline what areas we are succeeding in doing anti-racist work, and which areas require updates, revision, or clear action steps. MAP has “tough” conversations that would make many other organizations uncomfortable, but we do it understanding what is needed to address the challenge of making MAP a more equitable organization. 

All of MAP’s professional development trainings, coaching and mentoring for afterschool program staff are developed with a DEI framework. Professional development is offered at no cost to participants, so everyone has access to trainings. All PD addresses the developmental needs of youth so that afterschool educators are equipped to design a curriculum that meets the unique needs of the youth in their programs. Trainings are offered both in person and virtually in order to reach a variety of programs and educators throughout the entire state, including the islands. MAP trainers facilitate professional learning communities, or “PLCs,” to engage smaller groups of educators in spaces that encourage discussion, challenging assumptions, and behaviors, analyzing program practices, and strengthening or creating new ones. MAP works with programs to intentionally support children of all demographic backgrounds, with a focus specifically on addressing interpersonal, institutional, and cultural racism and other forms of oppression.  

Our organizational approach to equity includes having a network of trainers who are diverse in languages spoken as well as race, ethnicity, religious background, ability, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation and socio-economic background. MAP currently offers sessions in English, Spanish and Portuguese, and are in the process of developing PD in Cantonese and Mandarin. MAP’s PD opportunities provide support for educators working with diverse students, including our 5-hour CEU approved course on Working with English Language Learners. 

MAP has incorporated a racial justice and equity framework in our data collection and sharing strategies. This includes our frontline staff survey, issued in 2022, in which we have collected data on the racial and gender demographics of participants.

Upon review of this data, MAP has identified that as an organization we need to prioritize outreach (such as site visits) in communities of color in order to ensure we are engaging voices of Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous people working in the out-of-school time field to learn about their strengths, challenges, and needs.

To better highlight critical areas of need, MAP created an out-of-school time story map to outline where afterschool and summer programs are receiving state and federal funding, overlaid with data on child poverty. 

MAP is frequently in conversation with regional and national partners where we share challenges and success stories in advancing organizational equity and anti-racist policies. As part of the national 50 State Afterschool Network, MAP participates in and facilitates networking opportunities to spread best practices within the afterschool field. Additionally, MAP plans to integrate an equity and justice framework into our committees and coalitions. In doing so, MAP aims to support local and statewide initiatives that better serve black and brown communities and ensure policies reflect the needs of families and youth.