DEI Spotlight - Cameron Pittman
Cameron is a first year Masters student studying Museum & Field Studies. Cameron was recently awarded a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Award based on his commitment to making 兔子先生传媒文化作品 and the larger community a more inclusive space for everyone. We asked Cameron a few questions to learn more about his work and get to know him better. Read more below!
Give us a brief overview of your recent DEI work.
My recent DEI work mainly revolves around outreach to local communities, where the location of this work has been centered around museums. As an emerging museum professional, I held as one of my goals was to represent the voices that were not encouraged to be more involved in the field of museums. Museums have an inherent authority in spreading knowledge, and it is vital to understand how this value changes in various communities. I have chosen to use my experience to be an advocate for DEI initiatives, whether in class or with my volunteer jobs, and then further develop materials that continue to spark conversations on this topic.
What resources do you recommend for someone who is interested in getting involved with DEI?
A resource that I cannot recommend enough is volunteering at local museums, community centers, and similar institutions. The work that museums are currently doing consists of outreach to the communities, and they need the hands to do it. This work often consists of DEI work, with the mission to create more accessible and equitable assets requiring unique perspectives and ideas. Other excellent resources include student organizations being run on campus. If you are interested, and DEI is one of them, there will be an organization that works well with that. Furthermore, suppose somehow the club or organization you鈥檙e looking for does not exist. In that case, that is the chance to go and create something impactful.
How would you define Diversity, Equity, and/or Inclusion?
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion all become one heck of a topic. I do not think I can create a definition for any of these terms without somehow plagiarizing a dictionary. However, I cannot stress enough the significance of these words as they relate to the work we must strive to become better with. Combining these into one instance, I would give meaning to DEI as the bonds we all share and how we can strengthen these bonds to encompass everyone鈥檚 unique background.
Tell us a bit about the people and communities you have connected with during your DEI work.
Working in various museums, I have connected with multiple communities while involving DEI work. In Denver, working with the Black American West Museum & Heritage Center, I have connected with the local community consisting of many People of Color, assisting with preserving and conserving their history in the area. Through my school program and work, I have also connected with Indigenous communities and other communities of color. Our collaborations yield great conversations about what it means to hold authority and how we can best create an accessible experience.
How should one measure the impact of their work?
The impact of this type of work is rarely immediate, but it can be measured by how it persists. Looking at the community one is attempting to affect, I believe it is essential to understand the context of one鈥檚 place and look to cast the widest net in terms of influence. Measuring this will involve long-term evaluation and knowing whether your work affects all interested groups, even at a minor level.
Tell us a fun fact about you that is not related to your research, advocacy, or academics.
I am a classically trained tuba player, currently a member of the Boulder Concert Band. Also a pretty big gamer, when I can find the time.
What is a good book you have read recently and why did you enjoy it?
The Whole Picture by Alice Procter, a book I read for class, but personally I enjoyed it because it brought up many interesting ideas about decolonizing efforts in museums and forms of identity as it relates to art and history.
If you could have dinner with anyone (living or dead), who would it be and why?
Brennan Lee Mulligan (Writer and Performer). His work as a game-master (Role playing) is fantastic, and his philosophies are refreshing and always on point.