Community Building and Belonging Committee

Established May 2020

The Community Building and Belonging (CBB) Committee is the coordinating and advisory
body that evaluates and seeks to improve MLA practices and programs as they relate to
belonging and community building*.

The committee shall:

• promote and encourage an MLA leadership that is representative of the
  organization’s varied membership at all levels;
• be a voice for belonging within MLA;
• advise and collaborate with MLA communities and committees on community
  building and belonging-related issues;
• encourage, recommend and contribute to belonging-related programs, events and
  resources for MLA members and the public;
• recommend strategies that contribute to a fair, representative and engaged
  profession;
• lead special belonging-related projects as directed by the Board of Directors.
  
  

To that end, the committee activities may include:

• liaising with Community Council to integrate the broad perspectives of MLA
  Caucuses into the overarching MLA vision, while providing guidance to community
  groups on fostering a sense of belonging and enhancing community building;
• liaising with the Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee (PRRC) on
  strategies related to broadening the pipeline to the profession;
• liaising with MLA headquarters to collect and analyze data, and update information
  on the MLA website.

The CBB Committee is composed of:

• 6 to 9 members at-large selected because of their expertise in CBB-related issues,
  who serve staggered three-year terms;
• 1 chair-designate appointed from the pool of members at-large who will be serving
  their third year (or their second year if none are available);
• the chair-designate becomes the chair the following year, and will serve a fourth
  year if applicable.

*Definition: MLA interprets fairness, representation, and belonging as:

• Fairness: ensures that individual differences are considered in creating impartial
  processes, equitable access to opportunities, and just outcomes for all.
• Representation: acknowledges the variety of backgrounds, experiences, and
  perspectives that people bring, recognizing and respecting differences such as
  socioeconomic status, political beliefs, language, culture, nationality, age, ability
  status, religion, race and ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation.
• Belonging: fosters an environment where all individuals are treated with respect,
  valued for their unique skills and perspectives, have access to opportunities and
  resources, feel included, and can actively contribute to the association’s success.