The Women’s Jewelry Association (WJA) is facing a leadership crisis as five of its chapter boards resigned in response to controversial comments made by the organization’s national president, Gabrielle Grazi, regarding its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
In the past few days, chapter boards in Miami and Seattle announced they were stepping down from their roles, following similar resignations earlier this month from the boards of WJA’s San Diego, Northern California (NorCal), and Chicago chapters.
WJA National has not responded to multiple requests for comment, and Grazi’s email indicated she would be out of office until February 7. The resignations stem from Grazi’s address during the WJA’s 2024 national membership meeting on December 10. Grazi had acknowledged that the organization’s efforts to support DEI might have inadvertently excluded some members, apologizing for the misstep. She stated that moving forward, WJA would focus on diversity of thought but would not engage with social justice issues.
Following the controversy, WJA National sent a statement on January 24 to reassure members that the organization would not change its DEI programming, despite Grazi’s remarks. The email also introduced Donna DeLucia as chair of the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) committee for 2025.
However, several chapter boards voiced strong objections to Grazi’s comments and the subsequent lack of action from WJA National. On January 28, Seattle’s chapter board released a statement saying the apology was insufficient, as it didn’t acknowledge that Grazi’s remarks were wrong. The Seattle board expressed disappointment in the national board’s support for Grazi despite clear feedback from chapters.
Miami’s chapter also issued a resignation statement on January 29, citing Grazi’s remarks and National’s response as factors undermining trust within the organization. The Miami board emphasized that the current leadership was prioritizing damage control over meaningful solutions.
Other chapters, including San Diego and Chicago, echoed similar sentiments, with the San Diego board citing the inability to support the community effectively under the current leadership.
The controversy centers around Grazi’s comments, which some saw as a shift away from WJA’s foundational commitment to inclusivity. Grazi had also attempted to address dissatisfaction over the national board’s response to significant global events, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the October 7 terrorist attacks.
Jewelry reporter Becky Stone commented on the crisis, agreeing with the Chicago chapter’s stance and urging the industry to choose inclusivity over comfort in the face of prejudice.
Gabrielle Grazi, who was elected president of WJA in January 2024, previously served as president of the WJA Foundation’s board of trustees.