After reflection, gathering, and synthesizing information from the EMP community and beyond, The National EMP Network has released its new brand and identity to guide the organization in its next phase. Through mission, vision, and values statements, a diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion statement, and a fundraising campaign, this new direction aligns NEMPN’s work with what we see as the future of the museum profession.
“Our strategic priorities are the compass for navigating our future,” said Jesse Dutton-Kenny, Regional Director – West and chair of the Statements Subcommittee. “With these statements in place, we will continue and expand the work we do with our board, our committees, our chapters and chapter leadership to address the impacts of ongoing inequity in museum work and provide the tools and resources they needed for EMPs to thrive.”
At the beginning of 2021, a subcommittee underneath the Advocacy Committee was convened to work on drafting new Mission, Vision, and Values Statements as well as a Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion (DEAI) Statement for the organization. We are grateful for the work of the subcommittee, including members Petra Brown, Heidi Schureck, Amelia Whitehead, and Madeline Burkhardt.
Charged with creating and publicizing statements that clearly define the core values we share and practices to act upon, the committee worked together to analyze trends across and beyond the museum profession, examine the current state of peer and aspirational organizations, and convene structured conversations with the NEMPN Board to develop a concrete mission. As these statements all articulate community values it was an essential aspect of the project to seek community input so that they more fully represented the NEMPN membership. Throughout the process, EMP community members were engaged through surveys, social media and conversations.
Next steps? To move from plan to action, each of our committees will launch projects that connect the statements’ priorities and strategies to our work in the field at-large. To fund these projects and model funding practices for the field, we have also launched a Bonfire campaign. We realize that a good portion of our community is underpaid and overworked, but for those of us that can donate, every dollar will go directly towards lifting up our community in every way that we can.
Find the full mission, vision, and values statement and DEAI statement, and follow the National EMP Network for stories and updates moving forward.
About The National EMP Network
The National EMP Network envisions communities in which museum professionals make meaningful connections within and across backgrounds, disciplines, and institutions by providing leadership, responding to changing needs, enriching experiences, growing capabilities, and sharing resources. National EMP Network is a registered 501(c)3. For more information: nationalempnetwork.org
