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Racial Equity Action Institute

Join NCG’s Racial Equity Action (REA) Institute — a new offering connecting racial equity specialists and leaders in philanthropy, government, business, and nonprofits to learn, network and develop a mix of actionable strategies with field experts and each other. You’ll have opportunities to reflect, share, and act.

The REA Institute is a multi-sector space to test and deepen racial equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. We are centering racial equity with an intersectional framework that recognizes the ways race is shaped and informed by class, gender, sexuality, and ability. Fifteen to twenty participants will attend five, in-person, five-hour sessions over the course of 7 months. Whether your institution uses “racial equity” or “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the REA Institute will focus on moving your institution towards equitable practices and supporting you in creating the conditions for action.  

One sector on its own cannot solve the challenges of racial inequities. NCG recognizes we can achieve more together by organizing a multi-sector space for discussion, learning, and innovation. Through the REA Institute, participants will better understand the Bay Area racial equity landscape and create solutions for our shared challenges.

 

Goals

  • Create a network of racial equity specialists and leaders seeking to connect to a deeper purpose within ourselves and to create community with each other
  • Create a space to reflect and learn from each other and to craft approaches to the challenges of advancing racial equity and DEI within our institutions
  • Sharpen our collective analysis and understanding of racial inequities in the Bay Area
  • Acquire tools, resources, and knowledge to advance racial equity and DEI -- personally, institutionally, and in our communities
  • Apply the knowledge we gain and create action plans to move our institutions on racial equity and DEI

What will you get out of participating in the REA Institute?

  • Opportunities to reflect on your personal agency and to grow your effectiveness to work on racial equity and DEI
  • Opportunity to meet like-minded specialists and leaders across sectors to build a network of colleagues for support and advice
  • Hear from field leaders and community experts across multiple sectors on racial equity and DEI
  • 1:1 coaching between sessions with Alice Y. Hom, NCG Director, Equity and Social Justice  
  • Tools, resources, and knowledge to advance racial equity--personally, institutionally, and in our communities
  • Participants will leave with personal leadership development and institutional action plans to move racial equity efforts based on their respective situations

We’re looking for people who:

  • Are responsible for the implementation of racial equity and DEI efforts at their current institution;
  • Have a level of influence/authority to introduce new ideas, programs and understand their institution’s operations, systems, programs, and leadership structure;
  • Embrace reflection and are open to being challenged/inspired by different ideas on practicing racial equity and DEI work;
  • Seek a space to connect with others for support, to build relationships, and to problem-solve on racial equity and DEI challenges.

Our ideal cohort will be comprised of 15-20 people representing a broad range of demographics within the business, government, nonprofit, and philanthropy sectors. We are intentional about creating a space where people whose lived experiences informs their understanding of racial equity as it's playing out today and encourage them to apply.

Note: This website will be updated regularly with session dates and speaker information. 

1. The Power of Evidence

Objective: Understand the Bay Area landscape of racial equity and disparities and how data/evidence can be used as levers for change. Learn to use the Bay Area Equity Atlas, a new database with equity indicators.

Date: Friday, June 14, 2019 from 10am-3pm

Location: Northern California Grantmakers' offices

2. The Power of Listening

Objective: Learn approaches to community and civic engagement with a focus on listening to people from impacted communities and hearing solutions.

Date: Early August

3. The Power of Culture

Objective: Understand what it takes to shift the culture within an institution and the importance of narrative change in racial equity.

Date: Late September

4. The Power of Leverage Change

Objective: Learn how to engage colleagues in racial equity and DEI work and leverage people in positions of power to advance racial equity.

Date: Late October/early November

5. The Power of Working Together

Objective: Focus on what participants will bring back to their institutions and discuss opportunities to work collectively in the future.

Date: Early December  

What is the NCG Racial Equity Action Institute?

The REA Institute is a multi-sector space to test and deepen racial equity and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. Fifteen to twenty participants will attend five, in-person, five-hour sessions over the course of 7 months. Whether your institution uses “racial equity” or “diversity, equity, and inclusion,” the REA Institute will focus on moving your institution towards equitable practices and supporting you in creating the conditions for action.  

How does NCG define racial equity?

  1. Borrowing from the Center for Social Inclusion and Race Forward, NCG defines racial equity as both an outcome and a process. As an outcome, we achieve racial equity when race no longer determines one’s socioeconomic outcomes; when everyone has what they need to thrive, no matter where they live. As a process, we apply racial equity when those most impacted by structural racial inequity are meaningfully involved in the creation and implementation of the institutional policies and practices that impact their lives.
  2. When we achieve racial equity:
  • People, including people of color, are owners, planners, and decision-makers in the systems that govern their lives.
  • We acknowledge and account for past and current inequities, and provide all people, particularly those most impacted by racial inequities, the infrastructure needed to thrive.
  • Everyone benefits from a more just, equitable system.

Why is NCG creating the REA Institute?

  • Current and historic policies driving dramatic inequality in the region
  • Rising racial violence and intolerance
  • Discussing race, racism, and racial equity continues to be an enduring challenge
  • Increased interest and action in multiple sectors to address race and racial equity
  • Desire to act together, as a cohesive community

What will I get out of the REA Institute?

  • A network of racial equity leaders seeking to connect to a deeper purpose within ourselves and to create community with each other
  • A space to learn from each other and to craft and try out approaches to the challenge of cultivating/advancing racial equity within our organizations
  • A collective analysis and understanding of racial inequity in the region
  • Tools, resources, and knowledge on to advance racial equity--personally, institutionally, and in our communities
  • Participants will see a shift in their personal, institutional, and community perspectives on racial equity
  • Participants will leave with a personal leadership development plan and an institutional action plans to move racial equity efforts based on their respective situations

What is the time commitment for the REA Institute?

  • Participants will be expected to attend 5 five-hour, in-person sessions over 7 months, starting in June 2019 and ending in December 2019
  • Participants are asked to complete an intake assessment and conversation, participate in check-ins between the cohort sessions, and may be asked to participate in post-cohort updates and evaluation activities

What is the cost of participation?

The REA Institute is free! There is no cost for participation. All meals and materials will be provided. Participants are expected to manage their own transportation to all sessions.

What are you looking for in participants?

  • Are responsible for the implementation of racial equity and DEI efforts at their current institution and have a minimum of 2 years of overall experience working on these issues;
  • Understand their institution’s operations, systems, programs, and leadership structure, and have a level of influence/authority to introduce new ideas, programs, etc;
  • Embrace reflection and are open to being challenged/inspired by new/different ideas on practicing racial equity and DEI work;
  • Seek a space to connect with others for support, to build relationships, and to problem-solve on racial equity challenges.

What’s the difference between the REA Institute and other racial equity trainings/programs?

  • The REA Institute is multi-sector cohort  focused on bringing racial equity specialists and leaders together from the philanthropy, government, business, and nonprofit sectors
  • Targeted to people responsible for implementing and engaging in racial equity and DEI work within an institution
  • Focused on the Bay Area region

What will participants do?

The REA Institute will utilize a “Learning to Action” framework—that consists of several components:

  • Develop a shared understanding of the racial inequities in the region and how our respective sectors have been thinking about, discussing, and practicing racial equity
  • Craft, test, and refine solutions to shared challenges
  • Engage with each other across sectors and form partnerships to seed future work together

Who else is participating in the cohort?

The cohort will welcome 15-20 racial equity and DEI specialists and influencers from philanthropy, government, business, and nonprofit sectors

Who should I contact if I have more questions?

  • Alice Y. Hom, Director of Equity and Social Justice | ayhom@ncg.org | 415.635.2336
  • Daniel Lau, Manager of Programs and Events | dlau@ncg.org | 415.635.2335

Thank you for your interest in NCG’s Racial Equity Action Institute! We are accepting applications through Friday, May 10, 2019. We expect to notify applicants by the following Friday, May 17, 2019 with confirmation of participation.

Please contact Alice Hom (ayhom@ncg.org) and Daniel Lau (dlau@ncg.org) with any questions.