Community of Practice (CoP)  
Frequently Asked Questions 

What is Community of Practice? 

Community of Practice is a monthly gathering event, put on by the Equity & Belonging team and hosted by the Office of Equity. CoP’s purpose includes: 

This Community of Practice shall serve to develop Washington State into a Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Ecosystem by uplifting and centering REAL conversation and dialogue. The Office of Equity hopes to uplift this space as a way to encourage the development of understanding between Washingtonians, to exercise practical and nuanced communication skills, and to create a space for relationship building.  

Who is Community of Practice meant for? 

Community of Practice is meant for DEI practitioners, community members, PEAR consultants from state agencies, equity managers, and anyone who strives to make Washington THE first state dedicated to true Pro-Equity Anti-Racist outcomes. Community members and organizations welcome! 

When does Community of Practice meet? 

Community of Practice meets every third Wednesday of the month, from 11:00am – 12:30pm. The dates we have met/will be meeting in 2024 are: 

  • May 15th, 2024 
  • July 17th, 2024 
  • August 21st, 2024 
  • September 18th, 2024 
  • November 20th, 2024 
  • December 18th, 2024  

We will not be meeting in October. Instead you can find us at our Be Bold Be Change 2024 Convening. Register at this link to join us there in Yakima, WA, in person! 

Where does Community of Practice meet? 

Community of Practice meets on Zoom. Click here to register for our next upcoming meeting! You must register to each month’s event that you wish to attend to get the Zoom link for that session. 

I can’t find the Zoom link! How do I get access to the meeting? 

The Zoom link for Community of Practice will be found in a separate email directly from Zoom.  

If you have not registered to this next month’s event, the Zoom link will not be in your email. Register here for the month’s event that you intend to join. You will then get the link immediately emailed to you from Zoom in the email inbox you registered with. To find this email in your inbox, use search terms such as “Zoom Washington State Office of Equity Community of Practice.” 

If you continue having difficulties, please reach out to sharedpower@equity.wa.gov for assistance. 

Will Community of Practice be recorded for later viewing? 

Some parts of Community of Practice will on occasion be recorded and the hosts will announce when the recording sessions begins. These will be later posted to our YouTube page and distributed out to our Community of Practice subscribers.  
 
To encourage active participation and REAL talk amongst this Community, we will not be recording most aspects of the meeting. We encourage people to show up to Community of Practice to engage virtually in person in what ways works best for them. 

Why does Community of Practice meet? 

Community of Practice meets to: 

  • Build & strengthen relationships across state enterprise and community. 
  • Identify and bridge gaps to eliminate harm and amplify equity and justice. 
  • Work together to identify Determinants of Equity to bridge gaps in programming. 
  • Build statewide networks & collaboration through recruitment and engagement. 
  • Discuss best practices for pro-equity, anti-racist ecosystems in community engagement& state enterprise. 

I know someone who should be at these events. How do I get them on this email list? 

To subscribe to the Community of Practice email list, follow this link. 

How did I get on this email list? 

If you did not add yourself to this email list within the past month, Community of Practice identified your email from our “REAL TALK” and/or "INTERAGENCY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COLLECTIVE" subscriber lists. Feel free to change your subscriber preferences here! 

How do I participate in Community of Practice if I have [insert access need here]? 

The Washington State Office of Equity is committed to hosting accessible events that promote belonging, justice, and dignity. To request communication services (interpreters, written information in other languages, or other services) or accommodations, please call 360.902.3355 or 711 (Telephone Relay Service) or email Access@equity.wa.gov. The Office of Equity strongly encourages participants to make requests at least 14 days before the event to allow time to make the proper arrangements. 

For any other questions, please email SharedPower@equity.wa.gov for assistance.