General Resources on Racial/Ethnic Equity
Most resources on this website can actually be found in our separate Focus Area sections, listed under Criminal Justice; Education & Workforce Development; Finance, Banking and Industry; Health; and Housing & Real Estate. In this section, we’re putting resources that focus on racial/ethnic equity more broadly, and do not necessarily focus on a particular area.
Please keep in mind that all of the focus areas relate to each other, too. Closing the gap when it comes to racial and ethnic disparities requires that we see how all of these areas are interrelated.
Racial and Ethnic Equality Action Summits
View the video recordings of the Action Summits where community members shared their input on the Task Force’s recommendations
First Racial and Ethnic Equality Action Summit (December 5, 2020)
On December 5, 2020, West Palm Beach resident, business owners, elected officials, and community stakeholders, were invited to discuss issues related to the five focus areas of the Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Equality, Criminal Justice, Education, Workforce Development, Finance, Banking, Industry, Health, Housing, and Real Estate.
Second Racial and Ethnic Equality Action Summit (June 12, 2021)
On June 12, 2021, the Task Force shared updates on their work up to that point and the recommendations that were under consideration. West Palm Beach residents, business owners, elected officials, and community stakeholders, were provided opportunities to provide feedback and share insights with the Task Force members on the recommendations..
Major Support Organizations
Leading organizations that strive to advance new state and local policies.
Color of Change
Color of Change is the nation’s largest racial justice organization. Color of Change leads campaigns that build real power for Black communities. It challenges injustice, holds corporate and political leaders accountable, commissions game-changing research on systems of inequality, and advances solutions for racial justice that can transform our world. On their site, learn about their strategic initiatives and campaigns, or propose a new campaign.
Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE)
The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. The Alliance is a joint project of the new Race Forward and the Othering and Belonging Institute. On their website, find free reports, tools, articles, links and best practices, as well as notices about upcoming webinars, trainings and convening related to racial equity.
The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity (The Ohio State University)
The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity is an interdisciplinary engaged research institute at The Ohio State University established in May 2003. The goal of the institute is to connect individuals and communities with opportunities needed for thriving by educating the public, building the capacity of allied social justice organizations, and investing in efforts that support equity and inclusion.
PolicyLink
PolicyLink is a national research and action institute advancing racial and economic equity. It seeks to deliver and scale results in the following arenas: (1) Equitable Economy: Promote economic inclusion and ownership to eliminate poverty, shrink inequality, and increase mobility; (2) Healthy Communities of Opportunity: Create and maintain opportunity-rich communities in all neighborhoods and all regions of the country through strong networks and social capital, equitable development, and infrastructure investments that enable low-income people and communities of color to thrive; (3) Just Society: Build power and expand agency to ensure that all systems and institutions are just, free of racial bias, and lead to a vibrant democracy where all, especially the most vulnerable, can participate and prosper. PolicyLink succeeds by weaving together four essential functions: (1) Advocacy that advances policy change at all levels of government and across sectors; (2) Applied research and communications that build public and political will for inclusion, justice, and broadly shared prosperity; (3) Constituency and network engagement that empowers leaders to advance equity; (4) Implementation capacity that connects local innovations to policy; and provides stakeholders with needed data and tools.
Urban League
The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment, equality, and social justice. It collaborates at the national and local levels with community leaders, policymakers, and corporate partners to elevate the standards of living for African Americans and other historically underserved groups. On its website, find reports, tools, and publications related to economic empowerment through education and job training, housing and community development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, health, and quality of life.
Research Resources
Online resources focused on new state and local policies.
Racial Equity Hub (Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties)
The racial equity hub has links to a variety of sites and resources on racial equity. It has an entire section of resources related to building racial equity in the workplace, as well as other resources under topic areas such as anti-racism; board diversity, equity, and inclusion and racial equity tools. It also has a link to a Racial Equity Assessment Toolkit. Find kind-friendly books, podcasts and other materials on anti-racism, cultural heritage, social justice, etc., as well as information on trainings.
Articles and Publications
Articles, reports, and papers focused on new state and local policies.
Cities Build Infrastructure for Racial Equity (Georgia Municipal Association, 2020)
An article about the initiatives proposed by LaGrange, Georgia Mayor Jim Thornton in order to build racial equity in their city, including a nondiscrimination ordinance, a local hate crimes ordinance and the passage of a civil penalty for small marijuana possession.
How to Make Sure City Budgets Prioritize Racial Equity (CityLab, 2020)
Budgets reflect cities’ values. Places like Austin, Louisville and Fairfax County are trying new approaches to consider equity in spending plans. FUSE Corps, in partnership with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE), recently convened government and civic leaders to discuss these complex challenges. Building on the knowledge shared in this session, FUSE and GARE have identified seven ways to bring an equity lens when prioritizing government budgets. These include: (1) clearly define equity; (2) drill down in the numbers to expose inequities; (3) use data as evidence to hold officials accountable; (4) track and keep assessing the success of investments in equity; (5) include the voice of diverse communities in budget discussions; (6) take a high-level view of funds for greater equity; (7) find creative ways to simplify delivering funds.
Research Resources
Online resources focused on new state and local policies.
The National Equity Atlas (PolicyLink)
The National Equity Atlas is a first-of-its-kind web resource for data to track, measure, and make the case for inclusive growth. The Atlas provides deeply disaggregated, longitudinal data on demographic change, racial and economic inclusion, and the economic benefits of equity for the largest 100 cities, largest 150 regions, all 50 states, and the United States, including Miami-Broward-West Palm Beach. This means that you can find information on racial disparities related to race, ethnicity, age, gender, etc.
Toolbox
Practical resources and interactive tools designed to help both on-the-ground practitioners and citizens.
Racial Equity Tools
Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers more than 2,500 tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large.