DEAI letter from the museum president

January 1, 2022

As you read this letter and try to glean an understanding about the Frazier’s efforts towards a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, I want to be very clear that I am not an expert on any of those topics. I am, in fact, the opposite of an expert. Nevertheless, I am committed to making this museum a place where everyone feels welcome.

Alone, I am not capable.

For this reason and many others, we made the decision to form a Diversity, Equity, Access, & Inclusion committee.

At the Frazier, we use committees to tackle many topics ranging from long-term exhibit planning, employee morale, programming, and sustainability. Ideas, solutions, and direction all seem to come easier by getting smart and passionate people – you, us, others - in one room and pointing them toward a common goal.

Here are some starting points:

We are a museum that prides itself on being the place Where the World Meets Kentucky, which means we have an obligation to ensure that all of Kentucky is represented inside. This work is ongoing.

We have a responsibility to look in the mirror, examine ourselves and determine what we can do to improve and foster positive change.

We acknowledge racism and we pledge to look for ways to eradicate it where we can.

We will make mistakes, but we will not let those mistakes stifle our efforts.

We will work to make the Frazier a place of trust - to have complex and sometimes difficult conversations about unconscious biases, blind spots, and cultural differences.

We will continue to seek opportunities for growth and we will share those opportunities both among ourselves and with our partners; we will also lean on those partners and outside resources to learn.

It’s inevitable that our efforts will grow and change over time, but as long as I’m sitting in this position, our efforts will continue.

It’s true as President & CEO of the Frazier the responsibility is ultimately on me to move this museum forward. But, our committee of smart and passionate people is doing the work on this salient issue. Our committee is currently made up of Frazier staff and board. It is our hope to also add committee members from outside our organization. We invite all to share their thoughts.

We are listening, learning, and working together to make a positive impact.

Andy Treinen
President & CEO
Frazier History Museum