Cultural Equity Council

About the Cultural Equity Council

At the heart of FAI’s stated community and organizational values is an intentional and ongoing effort to ensure a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible folk music industry, free of racism, harassment, and discrimination. To address, encourage, and implement change in the folk community, FAI committed to a now eight-year process of self-examination, training, and outreach to make necessary changes and nurture a more representative membership.

Announced in 2020 in conjunction with the release of FAI’s draft cultural equity statement, and following a year of internal training with BIPOC**-owned Team Dynamics, we are thrilled to introduce FAI’s Cultural Equity Council. The Council is a formal arms-length listening body independent of the FAI Board and staff with the goal to make equity recommendations to inform FAI’s new strategic plan, moving from initiatives to policy. FAI is committed to accountable engagement of community members and provides honorariums for all equity-related work when asking BIPOC** and marginalized people to represent their unique perspectives. Select board and staff (including the Executive Director) participate in a non-voting capacity to provide context and administrative support.

Council Activities

• Observe online Affinity Group sessions (March 1-4, 2022) designed for community input
• Survey community regarding equity issues, experiences, and perspectives
• Conduct an online Town Hall (March 29, 2022, 5 pm CT) for community reflections and feedback
• Synthesize all input and reflections into an Equity Recommendations Report to the FAI Board