Diverse+participation


 * The NMEA board has approved a Strategic Plan which includes as one of its key focus areas to Cultivate Diverse Relationships. Specific items which may be considered in conference planning are listed below.**


 * Measures of Success:**
 * NMEA has an increased number of members who represent and/or educate underrepresented minorities including, but not limited to: people of color, indigenous people, island people, international communities, inland areas, and English-language learners.


 * NMEA has an increased number of members who represent formal education outside the classroom, specifically school and department of education administrators, science and other content specialists, and youth organizations.


 * NMEA annual conferences attract more diverse speakers, presenters, board members, committee chairs, authors, and others.

NMEA membership increases, growing with each conference by retaining past members while recruiting new ones.


 * Key Strategies:**
 * Leverage current technology and media to reach diverse communities and include members who cannot attend conferences (viral marketing, social networking, web 2.0, and through other related dissemination mechanisms).
 * Partner with other teacher professional organizations at national and state level (e.g. National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), National Indian Education Association (NIEA) and National Association of Bilingual Education (NABE)).
 * Partner with other professional organizations and similar-minded groups that reach diverse constituencies (International Pacific Marine Educators Network (IPMEN), Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), Historically Black Colleges Universities (HBCU), and other related groups); create exchanges at our respective conferences and events.
 * Strategically target a greater number of conference scholarships and free memberships to attract diverse members and leaders.
 * Personally invite members from diverse communities to attend/present at the annual conference.
 * Personally invite local school administrators, superintendents and their teachers to conferences; host a special event or other gathering for them.
 * Utilize “Board Buddies” at Conferences – board members invite someone from a diverse community to attend and co-present.
 * Provide organized follow-up with Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Committee, IPMEN, NMEA’s International Committee, and the proposed Traditional Knowledge working group and support those groups’ efforts**.**


 * Actions by Conference Committee and Conference Planners:**

Ensure that conferences include and promote diverse audiences, professions and content areas. Give direction to conference committee (program committee, Conference Guidebook (Cook Book), Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)).

Encourage others to recruit a co-presenter or attendee for a conference from diverse communities.

Make virtual conference participation available to diverse communities.
 * Develop a list of diverse target groups
 * Plan and budget for virtual participation
 * Partner with targeted groups using technology