A Look Back: 3 Years of Accomplishments at EM
The content of this article reflects the views of the writer, and not necessarily those of Ethical Metalsmiths. This article was written for The Source.
As we welcome Christina Malle into the role of President, immediate past President Monica Stephenson takes a look back on some of the accomplishments Ethical Metalsmiths has achieved during the three years of her tenure. The many initiatives that have come about are truly a team effort that take dedication, passion, and thoughtfulness. Thank you, Monica, for your leadership and guidance these past three years. Christina, thank you for stepping up to the plate as we look ahead!
Here’s to many more years of our amazing responsible jewelry community!
~ Chloe Beaumont, Editor-in-Chief of The Source
Monica Stephenson, immediate past President of EM. Photo courtesy of Monica Stephenson.
Left photo: Christina Malle, new President of EM. Photo courtesy of Stef Halmos.
As I step away from the role of President of Ethical Metalsmiths, I would like to acknowledge the accomplishments of the organization over the past several years, and celebrate with gratitude the many minds and hands who contributed to our very special EM community. It has been my honor to lead with the current Board and Advisors, an accomplished and experienced group, as well as some very dedicated volunteers. Without this nucleus of talent and devotion to our mission of connection, action, and education we certainly wouldn’t have survived, let alone thrived, over the past nearly 20 years of the organization's existence.
I assumed the role as President in May of 2020 just as Covid-19 had fully shut down the world, followed immediately by the spotlight on racial injustices in the United States. There was tremendous uncertainty about non-profits and membership organizations with so many businesses disrupted and members affected by these events. Fortunately for the organization, the financial health of EM was strong enough to hire Alexandra Hart, then the immediate past President of the Board, in the role of Executive Director at the same time that I became President.
I.D.E.A. Program graphic poster. Graphic courtesy of Black in Jewelry Coalition.
Over the course of 2020 and into 2021, Ethical Metalsmiths provided access to Covid-19 and social justice resources on our website, and collaborated with other organizations such as the Women’s Jewelry Association, Amazon Aid, and others to participate in and sponsor webinars, providing vital education—and important virtual connections—to the members of our community around the world. The truly stellar leadership of the Education Committee, unable to conduct in-person classes and juried student exhibitions, created the Academics in Pandemic exhibition.
October of 2020 also saw the launch of our blog, The Source, which has grown into a well-trafficked destination for information available to any reader curious about topics and change makers in responsibility in jewelry. EM became active participants in the Jewelry Leadership Forum, eventually collaborating with other industry organizations to create a free online anti-bias education program open to the jewelry industry, the IDEA program launched in 2021. In late 2020, EM held its first annual virtual retreat that involved facilitated visioning for the organization's leadership, which became three year strategic goals that culminated in EM’s first official budget outlined and approved in January 2021.
EM’s Action Coalition logo. Graphic courtesy of Ethical Metalsmiths.
One of EM’s goals established in 2020 was the formation of an Action Coalition, launched in 2021, that could enable any member to explore and participate in important industry activism, a core value central to the mission of the organization. A very successful Emerging Jeweler Membership level was created as a bridge between Student and Jeweler professional memberships, with mentors delivering education around nine topics that emerging jewelers find essential when beginning their journey. The Education Committee continued their excellent work on the core educational programs such as CriticalSmiths and So Fresh + So Clean, plus a very special exhibition of Radical Jewelry Makeover at New York City Jewelry Week 2022.
EM’s leadership also began a journey to develop a decision-making framework that stays true to the origin and name of the organization with help from Ethicist Mark Wheeler. The result of this deep dive into core values to create a consistent, equitable consideration of strategic alignments, funding, and collaborations led to a Grantorship program that seeks to engage entities that align with the lens of EM’s mission and values to further projects in the responsible jewelry sphere.
Pieces exhibited at the Radical Jewelry Makeover exhibition during New York City Jewelry Week 2022. Photos courtesy of Chloe Beaumont.
With Alexandra Hart exiting her role mid-year in 2022 to go back to her studio work, the organization conducted a thoughtful search for a new Executive Director, leading to Barbara Wheat assuming the position in May of 2022. EM is so fortunate to have had a robust and talented field of qualified candidates emerge, and Barbara, with her considerable experience at the intersection of non-profit, education, and jewelry has been the perfect fit. Also in 2022, EM had its first Member Town Hall, which invited all EM members to connect virtually with leadership and “ask anything.” We are listening!
The Responsible Awareness Industry Survey was conceived and sent in 2022 to independent designers and retailers to measure awareness of responsible practices in jewelry sourcing and communications, creating a baseline to measure against future results.
Work done by EM’s Responsible Sourcing Committee over several years culminated in the release of an “‘Ethical’ Gem Guide” of due diligence questions and a companion explainer document for those buying colored gemstones, available to everyone on the website, released right before Tucson 2023. And speaking of our website, it remains a vital hub to communicate and connect our members to our programs and resources.
There is so much more, of course, but these are a few highlights. Most importantly, EM’s community of kind and caring members continues to grow, connect in myriad ways, and share resources and best practices in their own journeys. Our Members are creative, vibrant, and diverse in many respects, and are infinitely inspiring to me. I leave with a full and grateful heart, knowing this work is collaborative and goes far beyond any one of us, and ultimately affects ALL of us.
With tremendous gratitude,
Monica Stephenson
“We are a small team of passionate jewelry industry professionals and writers. We’d appreciate your support to grow our team and continue to be able to provide the best responsible jewelry content for years to come!”
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