The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has announced the introduction of a SCA/World Coffee Events (WCE) committee and task force.
On 16 January, the SCA hosted a webinar about the work and composition of the SCA’s two new ad hoc committees and one longer-term task force in response to community and member concerns. They include:
- WCE Deferred Candidacy Policy Ad Hoc Committee
- SCA/WCE Events Sponsorship and Site Selection Ad Hoc committee.
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force
“This is a major first step towards institutionalising the values of our membership and ensuring that the conversations we’ve had in the last few months leave an indelible mark on the future of the SCA,” says Paul Stack, President of the Specialty Coffee Association.
The objectives of the ad hoc committees will be to address the specific needs though empowered representation and deliberation of stakeholder groups. The task force is being launched simultaneously to provide a framework for equity, diversity and inclusion for the SCA. This group will publish a list of recommendations on organisation-wide changes required at the association.
Each ad hoc committee will be co-chaired by two members of the SCA Board of Directors and will include a wide cross-section of elected leadership from the SCA Guilds and Advisory Councils from different areas of the industry, different interest groups, and of different backgrounds and geographies.
To ensure these committees are as inclusive and diverse as possible, the co-chairs and staff will seek representation of under-represented communities, a balance of gender identity, sexual identity/orientation, geography, and industry experience.
Each committee will also have the support of two dedicated staff members, with one member of staff identified as the lead and main point of contact. The total number of committee members will be approximately 15 people.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to once again apologise to members of our community who were unseen, unheard, and even felt discriminated against by the leaders of your association,” says Paul Stack, President of the Specialty Coffee Association. “Our conversations with all of you have shown that there are gaps in our processes related to selecting sites for international events and competitions.”
In the following weeks, the SCA Board and executive staff will be finalising the logistics of creating these new ad hoc committees and task force and appointing the board co-chairs and staff.
To watch the webinar recording, click here. For more information or to make your opinion heard, email getinvolved@sca.coffee.
“We need the input of members like you to ensure that equity, diversity and inclusion are part of the permanent organisational fabric of the SCA,” Paul says.