At 12:15 PM on Thursday, November 14th at the Multi-Cultural Centre on 6th Avenue South, Lethbridge Diversity & Inclusion Alliance held a charter signing event. On behalf of SAPA, Secretary Lyvia Hughes signed the Lethbridge Diversity & Inclusion Charter.
According to the LDIA's official page, the Lethbridge Diversity & Inclusion Alliance is a community-based organization that supports the promotion of diversity and inclusion in Lethbridge. To this end, they have been involved in organizing and promoting events for Black History Month, International Women's Day, World Refugee Day, Reconciliation Lethbridge and also taking a leadership role in the #ItStartsWithMe/#SayNoToRacismYQL campaign.
Individuals and representatives from organizations who sign the charter agree to actively promote inclusion through the following commitments:
Hughes was reached for comment about the Southern Alberta Pagan Association's decision to endorse the charter. On the topic of inclusion, she commented, "SAPA was initially formed so that the people of Lethbridge who always felt out of place, could find a place with us."
She shared some of her personal experience leading up to joining in the effort to establish the Southern Alberta Pagan Association as an organization. Prior to connecting with the diverse individuals who make up Lethbridge's pagan community, she had tried several different paths. She describes her experience: "while I was often welcomed and celebrated, I always felt like I was an outsider looking in."
"One of the mandates of SAPA is to be inclusive to those who might be feeling the same way," she stated. "We call out to those seeking reprieve, a home, a place where they are appreciated for their uniqueness. That is why signing the Charter was so important to our organization."
The pagan organization places an emphasis on creating safe spaces as the charter outlines: places of tolerance, acceptance and celebration of diversity. Hughes makes the organization's intentions clear. "We wanted to make a public declaration that, no matter who who are, where you're from, or what brought you here, we will open our arms and accept you, just as you are."
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