Everyday Democracy continues work to become a racially equitable, inclusive organization

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June 17, 2009 | |

Staff and senior associates perform a skit during Everyday Democracy's diversity and inclusion retreat.

On June 4-5, Everyday Democracy staff and senior associates came together for an off-site retreat to share and learn what racism and racial equity means to each of us and how we can become a more racially equitable, inclusive organization. The retreat surfaced some uncomfortable discussions, but we know these are the kind of conversations we need to pave the way for real change. 

For years we’ve worked alongside communities to address the barriers to a strong democracy where everyone has a voice. Within recent years, Everyday Democracy has begun to examine racial equity within the organization—not only to help communities better address racism, but also to help us continue our journey. The retreat offered us the time and space to dig deeper into issues around racism and racial equity and create plans to build an equitable workplace.

Gita Gulati-Partee of OpenSource Leadership Strategies, Inc., and Maggie Potapchuk of MP Associates facilitated our retreat. They led our staff and senior associates through a series of discussions and activities that helped us unpack our organizational history, culture and practices and examine each through a racial equity lens. Gulati-Partee and Potapchuk also helped us sharpen our analysis of structural racism, racial equity and what it means to develop as a racially equitable, inclusive organization.

We realize that this retreat is only the beginning for Everyday Democracy. “Polishing” this racial equity lens will take time and energy, but we’re committed to make this part of our everyday work and that of our communities. We’ll keep you posted on our progress.

Learn more: Racial Equity