ALP’s DEI Commitment

The African Library Project acknowledges the complex legacy of colonial and post-colonial history in Africa, as well as the inequalities that exist across communities in North America. The disparities resulting from discriminatory processes and policies in our shared history, particularly in areas such as access to education, literacy resources, and learning opportunities, persist. 

It is with an eye towards understanding how our work can begin to redress some aspects of these inequities that we have embarked on a process of reflection on our programs, how we work, our impact, as well as our position as a nonprofit based in the United States. 

Mindful of our interconnectedness and respecting the vast variety of life experiences, our stakeholders have, the African Library Project commits itself to honoring diversity, acting inclusively, and advancing equity in all aspects of our organization and its work. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan

In 2021, the African Library Project Board of Directors, in collaboration with its leadership, began developing a strategic plan to put this commitment into action. As part of this process, we assessed the needs of our organization, drawing on feedback from our Board members, operational volunteers, and staff. Through extensive facilitated discussion at the Board level, we resolved to identify, in partnership with the communities of which we are part, areas where we need to evolve our methodologies, create spaces for deeper discourse, engagement, innovation, and action towards: 

  • Expanding diversity at all levels of the organization 

  • Creating more inclusive processes and opportunities for dialogue and joint program 

development with our African partners 

  • Diversifying library collections to include more African authors, literature, and reference materials 

  • Establishing a “culture trust” to ensure that African Library Project programs and 

materials are culturally informed, appropriate, and in harmony with the organization’s values and commitments 

  • Developing methodologies to monitor and evaluate our progress in these areas 

  • Sustaining our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The African Library Project views the pursuit of equity, diversity, and inclusion as a continuous and sustained effort to reflect, understand, and act, as we evolve in a world where we share a responsibility to make these concepts a lived reality.