Leslie Gascon (she/her/hers), MBA, MS(LIS), AHIP, is the Public Health & Collection Librarian of the University of Washington (UW) Health Sciences Library (HSL). She educates and assists UW faculty, students, staff, and researchers primarily in the School of Public Health to identify, manage, and evaluate information.
While we're all located in different areas, I want to acknowledge the land I live, work, and play on. I also encourage you to take some time today to learn more about the land you're on.
I am located in Seattle, Washington, the land of the Coast Salish peoples, "land which touches the shared waters of all tribes and bands within the Duwamish, Puyallup, Suquamish, Tulalip, and Muckleshoot nations" (source). I am here because Indigenous peoples were violently removed and kept away from this land.
"For over 30 years, Cecile Hansen has been the elected chair of the Duwamish Tribe. [She] is the great great grandniece of Chief Si’ahl'." The Honorable Chair Hansen's motto of "We are still here" expresses her people's fortitude as the Duwamish continue their 165-year fight for federal recognition. (Source)
I would also like to unequivocally state that Black Lives Matter; I support Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; and I stand with lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, asexual, and gender queer folks.
As an ally speaking to allies, in the face of "hate, we must work together to fight for members of our Black, [Indigenous, APPI and other People of Color communities], to resist, expose and disrupt [systemic] power structures that threaten to carry out discrimination and violence against" Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color. "Moreover, we need to put in the work to create a more inclusive environment within our spaces and communities; no one is exempt." (Source)
The Health Sciences Library Mission is to advance scholarship, research, education, and health care by anticipating information needs, providing essential resources, and facilitating learning for the greater health sciences community.
Leslie's LinkedIn
Leslie's ORCID: 0000-0001-7363-8839
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