It's been noted in the past, on this blog and elsewhere, that zookeeping tends to be a very white profession. That whiteness tends to become more evident the higher you go up the organizational ladder at many zoos and aquariums, and while we can point out a few black or brown leaders in our field, they are few. The lack of diversity in the field is something that's been discussed for years, but moved closer to the forefront of conversations following the Black Lives Matter protests over the last summer.
People continued to talk about representation, largely agreeing that it was something to be desired, but not really moving on from there. I was curious to see what the next step would be.
Recently, a new organization has appeared to address the issue - the Association of Minority Zoo Professionals. It serves as a network of zoo and aquarium staffers with an interest in increasing minority participation on the field. It seeks to do this through mentoring, professional development, and fostering of community.
So far, the organization has gotten many zoos and aquariums to sign up as support organizations, with dozens of professionals from various institutions - Black, Asian, Latino, Indigenous - offering to serve as mentors. It is also offering educational resources for aspiring keepers and students to help steer them into the field (one of the questions I've always had about our poor representation in the zoo field is whether it was due to zoos not hiring minority candidates that do apply for jobs, or whether there aren't that many minority candidates because we aren't attracting them in the first place). They also offer educational resources for schools.
Building more diverse staffs in our institutions can help us build stronger relationships with the communities that we serve, and help expand our conservation messages. If zoos and aquariums are to survive and thrive, and to carry on their important work, then they need to be for everybody.
The Association of Minority Zoo Professionals
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