Infusing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion into Community Engagement: A Collaboratory Community Dialogue
Hosted by Collaboratory’s Anti-Racism Research Fellow:
Dr. Stella Smith, Prairie View A&M University
Contact Kristin Medlin, Collaboratory’s Director of Research for more information.
Now more than ever, public outcry over the systematic racism and disparate treatment of marginalized communities has increased. Leaders in all sectors have denounced racist policies and practices, and pledged support for anti-racist engagement. Although these statements of support are laudable, often it is challenging to infuse diversity, equity and inclusion within current policy. Even more elusive is how to develop a set of metrics to assess and measure anti-racist engagement and practices.
Scheduled to coincide with the 2021 National Day of Racial Healing, this Collaboratory Community Dialogue explored how diversity, equity and inclusion intersects with community engagement to promote racial healing and positive change. As stated on the 2021 National Day of Racial Healing, “Through racial healing, we can all forge deep, meaningful relationships, lay the groundwork to transform broken systems, and create a world in which, together, we are a new force for positive change.”
Through this dialogue, we sought to gain feedback and insights that will inform the creation of an Anti-Racist Community Engagement Scorecard. The tool is designed to gather a holistic snapshot of practices and policies as they relate to anti-racist community engagement. Evidence-based and grounded in the belief that no single organization, program, or strategy will remedy our community’s inequities, the tool will be designed to gather data and insights that will be helpful as you examine current or develop new community engagement programming.
The scorecard is not about right or wrong, rather it is about assessing current community engagement activities and building a plan, grounded in your organization’s unique assets, commitments, and mission to infuse diversity, equity and inclusion into community engagement.
Participation in this Dialogue was for anyone — from novices to experienced practitioners, scholars, students, or community members — who wanted to align their work more effectively with community change through an anti-racist lens.
