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A New Harmony: Equity, Access, Belonging
Download A New Harmony – PDF
GALA choruses have a unique opportunity to explore issues of equity, access and belonging because our choruses offer more than just a place to sing: they are also communities of belonging.
GALA Choruses has designed a new workbook to help explore these conversations. Early drafts focused on a model called DEI: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. But the more GALA’s Open Table Committee explored the vision of A New Harmony we realized we could create a new way to frame this conversation without using the word “diversity”, which is overused today, or “inclusion” which innately infers that some people are in and others are out.
It is the belief of GALA Choruses that these topics are valuable for every member chorus. We hope that these conversations will inspire and launch your chorus on a journey toward equity, access and belonging.
The following tabs contain additional resources for further conversation.
Mobility and Ability
25 Simple Ways We Can All Be More Disability-Inclusive , by Vu Le
Ask First: Including Disability in the Diversity Conversation , by Sheela Nimishakavi
How to Make Your Social Justice Events Accessible to the Disability Community: A Checklist
Race and Ethnic Identity
10 Examples That Prove White Privilege Protects White People in Every Aspect Imaginable , by Jon Greenberg
Asian Queer Choirs: A Perspective , by Hsien Chew
Deconstructing White Privilege , by Dr. Robin DiAngelo.
Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person , by Gina Crosley-Corcoran
So You Want to Talk About Race? Book by Ijeoma Oluo.
What does Justice Look Like: The Struggle for Liberation in Dakota Homeland. Book by Waziyatawin.
When They Call You a Terrorist , book by Patrisse Cullors
When They Call You a Terrorist – Discussion Guide - PDF
Gender Identity
Explore GALA video shorts, workshops and resources for transgender singers and voice teachers/conductors working with trans and non-binary singers.
Explore GALA’s list of Gender Inclusive Choral Repertoire .
Resources from the 2018 Transgender Voices Festival
Both Sides Now , by Reid Vanderburgh
Creating Choirs That Welcome Trans Singers , by Jane Ramseyer Miller
Raven’s True Self , by Sam Bullington
Transgender Voices: Trans Inclusivity in GALA Choruses , by Reid Vanderburgh
Sexual Orientation
Bisexuality: Setting the Record Straight , by TheNotAdam
Finding Peace , by Reid Vanderburgh
Here’s What No One Ever Tells You About Bisexuality , by Camille Beredjick
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Terminology and Definitions
Three People Open Up About What It’s Like to Be Asexual , by Rachel Hills and Frank Kobola
Socio-Economic Status
Children, Youth, Families, and Socioeconomic Status
Diversity Toolkit: A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power and Privilege by Jeremy Goldbach
Poverty, Public Assistance, and Privatization: The Queer Case for a New Commitment to Economic Justice by Susan Raffo and Kay Whitlock.
The Price of Inequality: How Today’s Divided Society Endangers Our Future. Book by Joseph E. Stiglitz
Community Engagement
Tips for Transformative Community Engagement - PDF
Includes a planning grid for choruses designed by Jane Ramseyer Miller
Transformative Community Engagement Workshop – Video (20 min)
Presented by Jane Ramseyer Miller, GALA Choruses Artistic Director
General Topics
Authenticity in the New Age , by Reid Vanderburgh
Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People , by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald
Inclusion Awareness , by Reid Vanderburgh
Why Was the Implicit Bias Test Created? by Dr. Anthony Greenwald
Unconscious Bias , by Dr. Brian Welle
What Exactly is Privilege , by Reid Vanderburgh
Transgender Voices
Explore video shorts, workshops and resources for transgender singers and voice teachers/conductors working with trans and non-binary singers.
"We live in a world of rapidly changing demographics. Building a chorus that truly reflects the community in which your chorus lives is a revolutionary act that can ensure your chorus’ health and well-being for decades."
– Maria-Elena Grant, GALA Board Member
