We want to share some of the concrete steps the ADSC has taken over the past several months in response to the harmful incident that occurred at our most recent Preservation Ball. This incident caused real harm, especially to members of the AAPI community, and we truly understand that trust in our organization has been shaken. We take full responsibility for how the environment allowed such an incident to happen. We also recognize that some members of our community feel our response has not gone far enough. We are listening, and working our hardest to do better.
We also want to acknowledge that it’s taken us a long time to speak publicly about all of this. Everyone on the Board volunteers their time to ADSC while also juggling busy full-time jobs, families, and personal commitments. It’s been hard to find the time and energy these serious conversations deserve. That’s not an excuse, but just the reality. We take this all very seriously, and we’re sorry that the demands of our personal lives have affected our ability to communicate as quickly and clearly as we should have. Thank you to those who've lent us grace while we’ve worked through this as thoughtfully as we can.
Here is what we have done so far to begin the necessary work of change:
Leadership Restructuring: We've restructured and changed leadership roles to better support a more inclusive, respectful, and welcoming community at all levels of ADSC.
Mandatory DEI Training: All Board members, event chairs, and volunteers are now required to complete DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) training through the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation before they can participate in ADSC events or planning. The current Board has already completed this training and is committed to retaking it on a regular basis to ensure our understanding and practices continue to evolve.
Updated Code of Conduct: Our Code of Conduct has been thoroughly revised to address gaps and strengthen expectations. It is now part of the onboarding for all leadership, volunteers, and Board members. It will be reviewed regularly with input from the community, posted prominently on all ticketing platforms, and sent to attendees before every event.
Expanded DEI Committee: We are expanding our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee to ensure these values are embedded in event planning and organizational decisions. We welcome new voices—please contact us if you’re interested in participating.
Event Incident Response Plan: A designated group of Board members will be available at every event to respond quickly and decisively to any issues, based on our Code of Conduct. All volunteers will be informed in advance about who they are and how to reach them.
Community Donation: We’ve made a donation to the Chinese Historical Society of America in San Francisco as a step toward acknowledging harm and supporting education and cultural preservation.
Educational Resources: We're in the process of building a new section on our website with resources to help educate on cultural appropriation and offer guidance on respectful historical dress. These will be living/evolving resources, and we welcome community contributions. Please email zelda@artdecosocietyofcalifornia.org with any suggestions.
We know these steps won’t undo the harm that was caused, but we are committed to learning, growing, and making meaningful change. Not just in response to one incident, but in how we operate as an organization going forward. We hope to rebuild trust through continued transparency, action, and accountability. Our greatest hope is that those who are understandably hesitant will eventually gain faith in us and the path we're taking.