The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee has been listening carefully to members’ experiences and considering how NAAL can become a more welcoming, accessible, and equitable community. Much of our recent work has focused on feedback from the January 2026 seminar self-reflection process.
Several themes emerged. Members expressed a desire for greater racial and cultural diversity among presenters, scholars, and perspectives represented in our seminars. We also heard concerns about economic barriers to participation, particularly the costs of travel, lodging, and registration. Physical and technological accessibility, especially in hybrid settings, remains another important concern.
In response, the EDI Committee is working with the Academy Committee to develop accessibility guidelines for future meeting locations. We are also exploring ways to help conveners incorporate EDI considerations more intentionally into seminar planning, including presenter selection, reading lists, and outreach.
Because worship is central to our annual gathering, we are also working to develop practical ways to help the work of the President and the Academy Committee to address representation, accessibility, environmental concerns, and inclusive worship practices at our meetings.
Finally, we are working to close the feedback loop by communicating more regularly about what we are hearing and how those concerns are being addressed. We want members to know that their feedback does not disappear into an institutional attic: it is helping shape concrete recommendations.
EDI work belongs to the whole Academy. We welcome ideas, experiences, and new members as we build an NAAL in which more people can participate fully and flourish.
