Antiracist Action Plan

Under the Umbrella and owner Kaitlyn Mahoney believe that Black Lives Matter. As a white business owner, I am committed to taking real action to dismantle white supremacy both in the store and in the community. This action plan is a starting point to demonstrate the steps we plan to take to create an inclusive and affirming space for all people of color. I am white, so I recognize that there are limits to how comfortable we can make this space for people of color, but I want to make it clear up front to other white people that this space will prioritize the safety, accessibility, and comfort of people of color over white comfort.

This is a living document! If you have suggestions for how we as a business can do better with our antiracism efforts, please email hello@undertheumbrellabookstore.com.

Action Plan

We commit to taking the following actions:

Perform an equity and inclusion audit on our current inventory and publicly post the results. We will incorporate this audit into our yearly inventory process.
Ensure that at least 50% of the books facing out on the shelves inside the store are written by BIPOC.
Ensure that at least 20% of our wholesale and consignment stock is made by BIPOC artisans and small businesses.
Use our social platforms to highlight and lift BIPOC voices, including highlighting at least one book per week written by a BIPOC author.
Provide financial and volunteer support to organizations promoting social justice.
Ensure that at least half of the monthly 5% donations from our community curation shelf go to BIPOC-led organizations and initiatives.
Offer free and/or sliding scale ticket options to all store events, with priority given to BIPOC attendees.
Divest from partnerships with organizations that support white supremacy.
Personally add at least one $20 gift card per month to the Give & Take Wall for a BIPOC customer.
Establish a Safer Spaces policy to be posted here by the end of 2022.
Create a Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity training for all volunteers by June 2022.
Donate diverse books to schools and organizations that support youth of color.
Promote local small businesses run by people of color.
Take advantage of all opportunities provided by the American Bookseller’s Association and other industry groups to participate in antiracist workshops and activities.
We will not purchase tickets to conferences or conventions where less than 20% of the speakers are from underrepresented groups.
We will not participate in events or panels that do not have BIPOC panelists or organizers.