Tips for Organizing at Your school

Below are some suggestions, based on our own experience, for how to organize graduate  women and members of all gender identities/expressions who are part of traditionally underrepresented groups in a lasting way. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly (email we.berkeley@gmail.com). 

Step 1 - Build your community

A good first step is to reach out to the community of women and all individuals from URM in Economics at your institution. Invite those who are your peers to an informal get-together. Pick a time that doesn't conflict with seminars or classes, and choose a location that is central or close to campus (e.g. breakfast at the faculty club). Make this social event recurring and extend an invitation to women and all individuals from URM in other departments or institutes who also study Economics.

Step 2 - Choose an initial focus

Decide amongst yourselves what you would like your organization to initially focus on. Pick one or two activities that you feel most excited about and start with those at first (see what we do for some ideas). To ensure the longevity of your organization, make sure to include students from different years in the PhD program. Start small and grow slowly from there.

Step 3 - Reach out to faculty

Once you have established your community, reach out to faculty at your institution. Try the department head, diversity chair, or any faculty member who has expressed interest in the status of women and members of URM in Economics. You may be pleasantly surprised by the level of support you receive. As with initial ideas about research, do not overweight negative opinions about your endeavors.

Step 4 - Establish a source of funding

Create a budget for how much money you will need for your events. If your department is supportive and able to provide funding, then don't hesitate to ask. Your university may have funding sources for student organizations for which you can also apply. There may also be a diversity or equity institute on campus that can provide you with financial and institutional support.