Building Equitable Communities
Anti-Racist Communities (ARC860)- A Resource Guide
Resource Guide Introduction
Government leaders must use their power and influence to disrupt and dismantle the legacy of racial injustice across all areas of their municipality. It takes courage, hard work and time to break the cycle of systemic racism, and every stakeholder can be an agent of change by empowering each other to grow beyond colorblind notions of society and confronting inequities that harm and exclude people of color
Communities can't change what they do not acknowledge. Leaders need not look far to uncover systemic inequities in governing board representation, hiring practices, safety and justice, zoning, public transportation, essential housing, health care, economic development, public schools and many other policy-driven areas where inferior access and barriers to opportunities exist. They are hidden in plain sight.
By broadening understanding of the causes of the problems of poverty, inequity, and community distress, communities can transform attitudes and become agents of change for policy and practice for diverse, equitable, just and fair inclusion (Aspen Institute Roundtable on Community Change).
Understanding Your Community
Acknowledging Racial Inequity
Develop an understanding of the history of race and the present day consequences of race in society in general, and the community in particular. Increase knowledge of the community and the realities of public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations, norms and values through a racial equity lens.
Glossary for Promoting Racial Equity Analysis
Critical Race Theory - Scholarship of Derrick Bell
Making a Commitment & Engaging the Community
Transformative Change and Continuous Growth
Create a more just and equitable community for a more diverse membership by:
- Establishing goals and accountability metrics, systems, and tools.
- Building the capacity of constituents to confront and challenge racism in themselves and our community.
Facilitating Community Dialogue
Racial equity community dialogues:
- Facilitate understanding and dismantling of racist structures
- Foster relationship-building
- Engage individuals and communities in cultural, historical, and experiential learning using group dialogue, individual development, and community development.
Planning Guide for Community Discussion and Reflection Process (CAPD)
Additional Resources
Article Systemic Inequality: Displacement, Exclusion, Segregation ( August 2019)
A Scaffolding of Anti-Racist Resources (June 2020)