In April 2020, SANCA formally created the IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism) Committee to establish and implement strategies to ensure that SANCA reflects its community and serves all people regardless of background, identity, and socioeconomic status.
This page, and the plan listed below, serves that effort by providing transparency about SANCA’s IDEA efforts with supporters, staff, and students, as well as with the larger Seattle and King County communities it represents. SANCA recognizes that we are just beginning this work. There is a considerable amount of work to do to unseat policies, practices, and systems that uphold white supremacy.
Further, this page is not meant to applaud SANCA for tackling this work or exist as a performative gesture. Instead, the effort is meant to point to the fact that SANCA is behind the curve in addressing systemic racism in its operations and needs to take appropriate action. That work cannot be taken on rapidly and needs careful consideration and planning. This page expresses our beginning effort so that SANCA is transparent and open with its constituents about the journey we are undertaking.
Check out the Anti-Racist Book Club! This (online) space is set up for education for white people by white people to relieve Black and Brown community members (often femmes) of the exhaustive labor of education. However, all are welcome to join! We will meet monthly to learn from readings, think critically about our actions in our own lives, and find ways to start or continue to support Black people in the circus community and in all aspects of life. This is a space for learning, come as you are and with a mindset of growth. Register here.
The IDEA Committee is co-Chaired by Manjit Golden and Tania Nambo-Escobar. Other Team members include Lily Baumgart, Alyssa Hellrung, Megan Strawn, Emma Cady, Octavia Graham, Trevor Asbury, Jasmine Manuel, John Tannous, Amber Parker, and Sam Vasquez.
If you would like to provide input on this plan or if you are interested in joining the IDEA Committee, please contact co-Chairs, Manjit Golden and Tania Nambo-Escobar.
This plan has been approved by the SANCA Board of Directors as of October 2020.