Communities Creating Racial Equity
Background:
In 2007, Everyday Democracy launched a two-year initiative called “Communities Creating Racial Equity” (CCRE). The focus of the initiative was twofold: to help communities develop their own ability to create sustained civic engagement and change on issues related to racial equity; and to learn along with them about what it takes to address racial equity. Through CCRE, we’ve deepened our organizational learning on racial equity, and developed a more explicit commitment to racial equity as key to our mission and goals.
Click here to read more background information about CCRE.
What we're learning:
Communities can connect dialogue to action on issues of racial equity. Dedicating program staffing to supporting action and change seems to play a key role.
There is value in understanding what the underlying assumptions about how a project will lead to social change.
Tools to address closing racial disparities cannot be used in isolation, without the training to help people understand the ideas and concepts embodied in them.
It takes time to grasp the deeper meaning of working on racial equity. This was true for Everyday Democracy, and true for the eight communities. Many community people (of all backgrounds) who want to “work on race” need to spend time learning what racial equity means, how patterns of disparity and poor outcomes are tied to policies and structures which may be hidden or misunderstood.
Click here to read more about lessons learned from CCRE.
Stories from the initative:
Taking on racism in South Sacramento, Calif.
Bonnie Ratner of South Sacramento, Calif., talks about her organization’s efforts to bring the diverse community together in dialogues to find ways to build racial equity.
Dealing with uncomfortable conversations on tackling racism
Kirsten Parker-Smith, a probation officer in Lynchburg, Va., talks about her experience facilitating a dialogue in the city's dialogue-to-change program on racism.
Opening up about racism and prejudice
Taking a stand on student achievement with new found confidence
Once a skeptic, now a believer
Discovering her "dance"
Brittney said she was running for class president...
A safe place to share experiences and support others
Connecting across differences
Montgomery County (Md.) schools enlist Hispanic parents to improve student success
Syracuse marks a decade of dialogue to end racism