 WE WIN TOGETHER 
RACIAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY
➖
  

The WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community provides space for neighborhood communities, organizations, and community coalitions to learn from one another. Together, we reflect and gather insight for addressing racism in workplaces and throughout life.

Interested in joining? View our full calendar of events below:

VIEW EVENTS

WHY

Structural Racism is diffused and infused in all aspects of society, including our history, culture, politics, economics and it corrupts our entire social fabric. Structural Racism is the most profound and pervasive form of racism from which all other forms of racism (e.g. institutional, interpersonal, internalized, etc.) emerge.
To improve intergenerational well being and equity in our communities, we must first acknowledge our legacy of racism and understand the role that interpersonal, institutional, and structural racism play in creating avoidable disparities. As part of the WIN network, many communities are already addressing systemic racism and many are helping each other learn along the way.

APPROACH

WIN focuses on changing ourselves, our relationships, and our systems. Our framework for action, building from the WIN Network Framework for Action:

Featured

Transforming from within

Understanding ourselves and our legacies of racism and inequity, with the intention to heal and grow, focusing on race, class, gender, and place

Transforming together

Understanding that we are connected and need one another

Building relationships and strategic partnerships with those who hold a piece of the puzzle, including people with lived experience of racism and those who have advantage

Transforming for outcomes

Transform our process for how we decide what matters and how we create change together

Changing what we measure and how we learn and change based on whether people and places feel their lives are better

Stratifying our data by race/ethnicity, place, sexual identity and other inequities

Using WIN measures to improve inequities based on race, class, gender, and place

Transforming for equity

Creating equitable change in partnership with those who experience inequities

Assuring that everyone and every place has access to the vital conditions they need to thrive

Transforming systems

Changing culture, policies, and investments to create a more just and equitable system

WHY JOIN NOW?

Members of the WE WIN Together Racial Justice Community answer “Why now?” and what being in this community means for them.

Somava Saha

"Structural racism is the endemic underlying our pandemic. This is the moment to act."

Louisa Mancey

"Recent events have shattered my rose-colored glasses...we can't rely on others to fix our problems."

Kelley Gray

"Being actively involved in this community will increase my learning... growth, and ultimately my desire to advocate."

Mabel Sodeinde

"As somebody who cares about racial justice and racial equity, I am so excited to be a part of this community of people that care as much as I do."

Katie McCormack

"I’m not only learning from the content of the meetings, but I’m also learning from the other participants...It’s been a really wonderful chance for me to be a better anti-racist.”

Noah Kline

"It's the rare space for collective and community learning...we're supporting community members as they teach each other about their experiences."

COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS

These agreements are offered to help create a respectful and brave space for community participants to navigate conversations and discussions in this learning and action community. An Open Dialogue Guide to talking about Race

Be intentional in language; The best way to engage in conversations about race is to be intentional in the words we choose to use in discussions. Taboo words in American society such as "Racism","White Supremacy", and “White Privilege” are a necessary component for having these discussions.
Acknowledge the history; The institution of slavery lasted for 400 years, Jim Crow laws and segregation continued for 90 more years. We must recognize how this history has limited, and continues to oppress the Black and Brown community, in order to understand where we are now and ways to dismantle its effects.
Understand that racism is Systemic and Structural; Racism shows up systemically through culture, education, policy, and other socioeconomic disparities. Understanding that racism exists through these overt measures in our systems is necessary for effective dialogue.
Listen effectively and DO NOT discredit experiences or gaslight people of color; When participating in discussions about race it is important to allow people of color and allies to highlight their experiences with racism (if they chose to). “Gaslighting” is when someone manipulates information to make another doubt their experience, memories or perception of reality.
Understand that talking is not enough; Do your own research and educate yourself about effective allyship. Be active. It is not enough to not be racist, you must also take action to be anti-racist.

RESOURCES AND TOOLS FOR ADVANCING RACIAL JUSTICE

HOW WE WILL BE IN COMMUNITY TOGETHER

Be 100% present, extending and presuming welcome.
Try it on.
No fixing.
Speak your truth.
Whenever possible, acknowledge uncomfortable responses: say "ouch!" or "whoops!"; then explain.
Maintain confidentiality.
When things get difficult, turn to wonder; try "both/and," rather than "either/or."
Listen deeply.
Always by invitation.
Identify assumptions; suspend judgments.
Be aware of and allow for the difference between intention and impact.
Respect silence.
Respect Difference.
Expect "non-closure."

APPROACH