17³Ô¹Ï

A Time for Change

There are tipping points in history when systemic cultural and economic inequities must be faced head-on with courage and commitment. We at 17³Ô¹Ïbelieve that our society is facing such a tipping point now with regards to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rarely do we see such a convergence of understanding and a desire for change. In this moment, 17³Ô¹Ïis fortunate that one of our trustees has taken the initiative to provide a 2-for-1 challenge gift that will enable our organization to create sustainable change.

An Exciting Initiative

17³Ô¹Ïhas long aspired to be an instrument of change, and it is a recognized leader for setting professional, ethical, academic, and cultural standards. Nothing illustrates this better than this exciting and generous 2-for-1 challenge gift of $150,000. This is the cornerstone of a targeted campaign to raise $250,000 to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The purpose of this initiative is to permanently increase participation in 17³Ô¹Ïby students and scholars who are African American/Black and Indigenous Persons of Color (BIPOC). By acting effectively now, 17³Ô¹Ïcan be a leader in setting standards and procedures to promote greater diversity, equity, and inclusion.

How the Matching Challenge Works

This ambitious, expedited campaign, made possible by a 2:1 leadership pledge of $150,000 by Trustee Carolyn Midkiff Strange, has a June 30 deadline. From now until the end of June, every dollar contributed to this campaign (up to a total of $75,000) is being matched with two dollars. A contribution of $100 will be matched with $200, a gift of $5,000 will be matched with $10,000, and so on.

Immediate Actions

In the short term (2021), 17³Ô¹Ïwill use $50,000 to increase participation in 17³Ô¹Ïby BIPOC students at the secondary, undergraduate, and graduate levels. 17³Ô¹Ïwill also underwrite Summer Stipends, Annual Meeting travel grants, and mentoring programs for BIPOC students and scholars.

The rest of the short-term funds (for 2021) will buoy an already-launched partnership with Archaeology in the Community (AITC). AITC is a successful non-profit centered in Washington, D.C. that fosters student and community involvement in archaeology, with an emphasis on under-served groups. Together with AITC — and building on their experience — we are developing educational resources to promote engagement in archaeology by secondary-level students.

A Permanent Endowment

17³Ô¹Ïwill use the remaining $200,000 from this campaign to establish a permanent endowment that will generate $10,000 per year to support research scholarships, internships, and travel fellowships dedicated to BIPOC students and scholars. These fellowships will be a foundation for future efforts and will be a tangible sign of ASOR’s commitment to long-term change.

Join Us

Extending social equity and equal opportunity throughout all sectors of our world is one of the foremost challenges facing us today. You can join 17³Ô¹Ïin making this change happen. Please consider to help us earn this extraordinary $150,000 challenge gift.