Collaborative Convening 2018
Eastside Pathways Racial Equity Team
Seeks to elevate awareness and understanding of the inequities faced by children of color in our community, to improve outcomes and open pathways of opportunity for all.
Helena Stephens (City of Bellevue) and Shomari Jones (Bellevue School District)
Our first role is to educate. We are looking at an assessment tool that members of the team can use to determine individual level of racial equity knowledge so that we are better able to support our partner agencies in order for them to support the community. The community is going through a lot of racial equity issues right now, and we need to be fair to know how to respond not only as individuals but as organizations. We are asking organizations to understand how they are looking at racial equity in the clients they are serving – what are the barriers they are facing.
We are also putting our members as representatives for each collaborative – not to tell them how to do racial equity but to walk with them, learn as to what they are doing, guide them on racial equity in the work they are doing. Also, understanding how do we stand on the same page together and how do we move forward together.
We are doing this by finding opportunities for engagement and finding opportunities to keep the conversation alive. Our objective is to provide multiple perspectives to help collaboratives in their work. We want to impact the way they think and the ways they serve the individuals, honoring who they are and where they come from.
Audience Questions
As a white male, what can I do to support and strengthen your mission?
You can start your equity education by reading/watching online (especially Robin DiAngelo) and attend racial equity events. Then volunteer in some community service where racial equity work is being done. On the Eastside you could volunteer with Eastside Race & Leadership Coalition (ERLC) or EPRET or one of the EP partners.
So we could come to your collaborative for help with board and staff training? Do you perform the training or do you provide resources for training?
EPRET will come to an organization when they have requested our help to determine the level of work they have already done and the commitment level to equity work. We do not evaluate nor perform the training ourselves but help the organization develop an outline for their next steps and can offer suggestions for trainers and facilitators.
Does EPRET have specific race equity recommendations and training opportunities for partner organizations?
EPRET is developing a training and opportunities list that EP members can use. We are researching organizations such as Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and encourage EP members to attend the upcoming Pacific Education Group (PEG) training that will be held in Bellevue on June 27 & 28.
What articles or readings would you recommend as a starting place to better understand how racial equity can be built into our organizations?
EPRET is working with the Bellevue School District – Equity Department to develop a listing for organizations, but would suggest that “Under Our Skin.” and “Civil Rights History in Seattle” may be a good education/discussion point.
EPRET believes training events rather than readings, since there are two discovery journeys, intrinsic and organizational, are critical to growth. Both are required for education and successful organizational change.
Learn more about our collaboratives
If you would like to get involved with or share your expertise in helping lead a collaborative, email info@eastsidepathways.org
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