THE SUBURB TOOLKIT
Many suburbs are reckoning with their past histories of racial exclusion and injustice. The residue of these histories is thick. When it comes to these issues, it is important for communities to ask: is our suburb part of the problem or part of the solution?
In my research on LA suburbs, I found that many communities still have some homework to do, when it comes to creating inclusive, welcoming communities for all people. To help that process along, I work with suburban municipalities in LA to raise awareness about their histories of exclusion. I give lectures on how the "tools of exclusion" worked in the past, and how a new “Suburb Toolkit” can start to undo those past injustices.
The "Suburb Toolkit" includes steps that communities can take to promote greater inclusion and equity not just locally but across the metro area. It comes from a place that sees diversity as a strength for promoting different perspectives, cultural richness, and opportunities for all people.
If you’d like more information, please contact me: becky.nicolaides@outlook.com.
In my research on LA suburbs, I found that many communities still have some homework to do, when it comes to creating inclusive, welcoming communities for all people. To help that process along, I work with suburban municipalities in LA to raise awareness about their histories of exclusion. I give lectures on how the "tools of exclusion" worked in the past, and how a new “Suburb Toolkit” can start to undo those past injustices.
The "Suburb Toolkit" includes steps that communities can take to promote greater inclusion and equity not just locally but across the metro area. It comes from a place that sees diversity as a strength for promoting different perspectives, cultural richness, and opportunities for all people.
If you’d like more information, please contact me: becky.nicolaides@outlook.com.
EQUITY FOR ALL SCHOLARS
Over the past few years, I've been advocating to create a more even playing field for historians who do research and scholarship outside of academia. For all scholars, access to a decent university library can make or break their prospects as scholars. It is our intellectual life blood.
To push this cause, I served on the governing Council of the American Historical Association, the nation's largest and oldest professional organization of historians. I served a three-year term on the Research Division from 2017-2020, which gave me a platform to push for equitable research access. We made some strides. The AHA gets it, and served as an excellent partner in this fight. One of my parting accomplishments was to co-write and get Council endorsement of the AHA Statement on Research Access, adopted in January 2020. This is now an official AHA position.
Click through below to read more about this work:
"Research Access and Scholarly Equity," with James Grossman, January 10, 2020, Perspectives on History, AHA newsmagazine.
"My Journey Through the Research Access Crisis," March 5, 2019, UCLA Center for the Study of Women blogsite.
"Locked Out: Research Access as a Challenge for the Discipline," Aug 6, 2018, Perspectives on History, AHA newsmagazine.
James Grossman, "Access to Digital Resources: Mapping the Landscape of a Problem," April 2, 2018, Perspectives on History, AHA newsmagazine.
To push this cause, I served on the governing Council of the American Historical Association, the nation's largest and oldest professional organization of historians. I served a three-year term on the Research Division from 2017-2020, which gave me a platform to push for equitable research access. We made some strides. The AHA gets it, and served as an excellent partner in this fight. One of my parting accomplishments was to co-write and get Council endorsement of the AHA Statement on Research Access, adopted in January 2020. This is now an official AHA position.
Click through below to read more about this work:
"Research Access and Scholarly Equity," with James Grossman, January 10, 2020, Perspectives on History, AHA newsmagazine.
"My Journey Through the Research Access Crisis," March 5, 2019, UCLA Center for the Study of Women blogsite.
"Locked Out: Research Access as a Challenge for the Discipline," Aug 6, 2018, Perspectives on History, AHA newsmagazine.
James Grossman, "Access to Digital Resources: Mapping the Landscape of a Problem," April 2, 2018, Perspectives on History, AHA newsmagazine.
LA HISTORY & METRO STUDIES GROUP
Since 2011, I've been serving as co-coordinator of the LA History & Metro Studies Group, a group I've been involved with since its inception in 1991. This group is an important hub of the community of scholars and historians working on Los Angeles history and urban/metro history more broadly, who live and work in the Southern California region. Our roster and past programs read like a who's who of LA history scholarship.
You can find out more about our group here, and follow us on Facebook.
You can find out more about our group here, and follow us on Facebook.
EDITORIAL WORK
Historical Studies of Urban America book series, University of Chicago Press.
From 2006-2020, I served as a co-editor of this award-winning book series. I was lead editor on over a dozen books in our series.
Editorial Board, California History, since 2013
Editorial Board, A People's Guide to Orange County, eds., Elaine Lewinnek, Gustavo Arellano, Thuy Vo Dang, Michael Steiner (Univ of Ca Press, 2021)
Editorial Board, Journal of Urban History, 2002-07
Editorial Board, Pacific Historical Review, 2003-05
From 2006-2020, I served as a co-editor of this award-winning book series. I was lead editor on over a dozen books in our series.
Editorial Board, California History, since 2013
Editorial Board, A People's Guide to Orange County, eds., Elaine Lewinnek, Gustavo Arellano, Thuy Vo Dang, Michael Steiner (Univ of Ca Press, 2021)
Editorial Board, Journal of Urban History, 2002-07
Editorial Board, Pacific Historical Review, 2003-05
OTHER RECENT ENDEAVORS
* Los Angeles Civic Memory Working Group, City of Los Angeles, 2019-2021 (co-chair of subcommittee on "Sites and Themes.")
* Ad Hoc Committee on Independent Scholars, for the Mellon Initiative of the Organization of American Historians, 2018-2019.
* Program Committee, 16th National Planning History Conference, the Society for American City and Regional Planning History (SACRPH), Los Angeles, 2014-2015
* Advisory group, International “Cultures of the Suburbs” network, funded by Leverhulme Trust, with participants from UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and U.S., 2011-2014
* Book Award Committee, American Historical Association - Pacific Coast Branch, 2011-2013 (chair, 2013)
* Nominating committee, Urban History Association, 2010-2012
* Board of Directors, Urban History Association, 2005-2008
* Board of Councilors, American Historical Association Pacific Coast Branch, 2005-2007
* Program Committee co-chair, American Historical Association Pacific Coast Branch, 2006 Conference
* Ad Hoc Committee on Independent Scholars, for the Mellon Initiative of the Organization of American Historians, 2018-2019.
* Program Committee, 16th National Planning History Conference, the Society for American City and Regional Planning History (SACRPH), Los Angeles, 2014-2015
* Advisory group, International “Cultures of the Suburbs” network, funded by Leverhulme Trust, with participants from UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia and U.S., 2011-2014
* Book Award Committee, American Historical Association - Pacific Coast Branch, 2011-2013 (chair, 2013)
* Nominating committee, Urban History Association, 2010-2012
* Board of Directors, Urban History Association, 2005-2008
* Board of Councilors, American Historical Association Pacific Coast Branch, 2005-2007
* Program Committee co-chair, American Historical Association Pacific Coast Branch, 2006 Conference
