DIVERSITY AND THE ICC

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DIVERSITY AND THE ICC

• Based on an ICC Community-Based Research Project
  Summer of 2006

Dana Christensen
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The ICC and its Vision, Mission Statement

• We, the member-owners of the Inter-Cooperative
  Council, envision an affordable living community
  in which equal, and educated members work
  together to further the cooperative movement.

• We, the member-owners of the ICC, provide a home
  for students that equally embodies quality
  living, community and social equality, all within
  the cooperative movement.

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My Project

• I researched for ways to increase the linkages
  and membership of people of color in the ICC.
  My work started off as focused on race and
  ethnicity in terms of diversity, but it became
  apparent that I needed to explore class as well.
  Due to the lack of time and original intent of my
  research, I was unable to give the focus needed
  for gender and sexuality. Hopefully, future
  research can pick up on this.

• My objectives were
• To write a history paper on the people of color
  in the ICC
• Interview co-op leaders in other areas of the
  country who have diversified co-ops.
• Conduct surveys for students of color inside and
  outside the ICC.
• Conduct focus groups on the topic of increasing
  the number of students of color in the ICC
  co-ops.

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Why are we talking about this?

• As an organization that adheres to the previously
  stated values, it is necessary for us to have a
  continuing dialogue and awareness on these
  issues.
• This is part of Divcoms larger mission to
  include more ICC members in a conversation about
  race, class, and gender in our organization

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Is there a lack of diversity in the ICC?

• Less diverse than UM and the USA.
• Some houses do draw a large international
  (graduate) student population, which make up the
  majority of the non-white population in the ICC.

Many people said that they would not join the ICC
because they did not want to be a minority in an
environment where they are already a minority.
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In the Beginning

• There was a lot of diversity in the ICC before
  the 1960s.
• The ICC was the only place where blacks could
  live in non-segregated Ann Arbor, and members
  were active in the civil rights movement.

Interviewees, white and of color, from this time
period all remarked on the degree of inclusivity
in the ICC, based primarily in their decision to
live in community housing that served their
economic needs.
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Why is there a Lack of Diversity?

• With the counter-culture movement of the 60s,
  the ICC became a predominately white institution.
• Nearly all the 50 people I interviewed, inside
  and outside of the ICC, past and present, said
  that the ICC itself radiates a culture that
  appeals primarily to white middle-class liberals,
  and turned away those who did not fit into this
  mold.
• Most members are largely unaware of the
  implications of their lifestyle, since it is
  largely based on a general opposition to
  mainstream white culture.

• The impression I get (of the ICC) is of
  privileged, middle to upper class white kids who
  enjoy the hipster/hippie image of the co-ops
• -Jennifer, 20, African American female from Ann
  Arbor.

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Factors Out of Our Control

• The glory days of racial inclusiveness in the ICC
  were during the 30s-50s, when Ann Arbor
  practiced housing segregation and the ICC was an
  attractive option
• Now a days, minority students have many housing
  options available to them, and often choose to
  live with their friends.
• Advisors and other support networks have in the
  past recommended students not join the ICC.

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Cleanliness and Downward Mobility

• The reality of cleanliness has major implications
  for recruitment and house culture, as well as
  cultivating inclusivity.
• Co-opers, by not maintaining their houses, show a
  disrespect for their property that people from
  different backgrounds can not relate with.

Dirty houses do not say I am a free spirit that
does not care about material possessions, but I
come from such a privileged place that I dont
need to care about the things I own.
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Other examples

• Vegetarianism the politics and culture of meat
  and grounds for moral superiority (in
  non-vegetarian houses).
• Anti-military attitudes closes out those with
  non-anti-establishment beliefs.
• Anti-religion shuts out those who practice
  mainstream Christianity.

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What are the benefits of diversity?

• We should not look at increasing diversity as a
  way to benefit us (majority white organization).
• This has been the downfall of many
  diversity/affirmative action efforts (NO QUOTAS)!
• We should think about our efforts as improving
  our larger community and society.

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Getting the Majority on Board

• There has to be an interest in making the ICC
  inclusive, beyond Divcom and supportive board
  members.
• House presidents and other leaders/representatives
  hold a responsibility to discuss these issues
  with their housemates.
• Organization is key this can not be seen as
  solely a Divcom issue.

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What about Themed-Housing?

• Past efforts at a multi-cultural house were
  unsuccessful, mostly from being top-heavy (from
  the administrative level).
• They are not the best way to promote safe space
  or diversity, since it should be part of every
  house.
• Indirect themes, like substance-free or graduate
  housing, has greater potential for being more
  diverse.

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How do we get more people into the ICC?

• Did I say cleanliness? Because that is a major
  factor that keeps people away.
• More work holidays.
• Developing a culture of pride and ownership that
  translates into better upkeep of houses.

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Keep doing what you are good at!

• The ICC was established to offer the most
  affordable housing in Ann Arbor, by keeping
  prices down, we will help to keep the ICC from
  becoming a country club for hippies.
• Make sure to advertise to a wide range of people
  the other benefits of the ICC, including room and
  board, less apartment hunting, and concentration
  of chores, etc.

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How Should the ICC Go About Community Outreach?

• We can not go to students-of-color events when we
  need recruitment and then cease to have contact
  with them.
• This only looks bad for us, because we are
  expecting a one-sided relationship
• We need to establish sustainable relationships
  with multiple organizations, as well as maintain
  the ones we have.
• Ex. Muslim Student Association.
• Find ways to benefit both parties.

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Community Outreach and Organizing

• Need more visibility and face to face
  interaction.
• More communication about houses
• The ICC should take initiatives to build
  partnerships and other relationships with the Ann
  Arbor and Detroit communities in order to further
  our development to social involvement.
• This will show that we care beyond having more
  people of color in our houses.
• Can be part of ICC spring break

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What can Divcom do?

• It is important for DivComs actions to be not
  just reactive, but also geared toward preventing
  racist, sexist, and other forms of discrimination
  and harassment.
• Goals seem hard to solidify for the committee
  because of turnover rates. It is crucial to plan
  out the steps it will take to reach tangible
  goals, and make sure the committee stays on
  track.
• Consistent collaboration with other committees to
  insure that diversity concerns are not left
  solely for Divcom.

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Advertising

• When surveyed people didnt have a negative
  opinion about the ICC, they didnt know what the
  ICC or coops were.
• Word-of-mouth is still our best advertisement,
  but this attracts the same type of people.
• Working on educating the larger public about the
  ICC and cooperative movement.

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The Biggest Challenge What the Organization
Needs to do Next

• It is a strong possibility that increasing
  diversity is not a major concern for most of ICC
  membership.
• Measures that would increase diversity wont
  happentoo much effort, affects status quo

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Closing questions

• What is your vision for inclusivity in the ICC?
• What steps do you think ICC members are willing
  to take in order to address the discussed issues,
  from board member to a regular member?
• Do you think there is a dominate, exclusive
  culture to the ICC? Where do you see it?