TPCH Releases 'Striving Toward Racial Justice: A Call to Action' in Partnership with the University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women and City of Tucson Housing & Community Development Department

TPCH Releases “Striving Toward Racial Justice – A Call to Action” in Partnership with the University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women and City of Tucson Housing & Community Development Department

Striving Toward Racial Justice is a call to action for community-based organizations in Southern Arizona. While many organizations have made a commitment to racial justice, action has been slow to follow. Striving Toward Racial Justice offers resources and tips for local organizations to translate commitment to action and results.

Striving Towards Racial Justice is not a toolkit, nor is it a step-by-step guide.

Rather, this call to action (CTA) provides direct information on the imperative to address racial injustice, and strategies Pima County organizations can implement to address racial inequities. Organizations (inclusive of their clients, community members, staff and leadership) are best suited to determine their own best plan, and stakeholders must work collaboratively, and as equal partners. Many organizations may have already started racial justice work, but may feel that their efforts are being stalled, or that efforts have been ineffective.

Virtual Introduction to Striving Toward Racial Justice – November 30, 11am-12pm

Join TPCH and the University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women for a 60-minute virtual overview of Striving Toward Racial Justice, suggested actions, and strategies community organizations can take to advance racial justice action and results.

Register for the 60-minute CTA introduction here.

Suggested Actions

The CTA provides foundational information and strategies for local organizations to engage in 7 critical actions to advance racial justice:

Action 1 – Organization Leadership Publicly Commits to Racial Justice

Action 2 – Collective Racial Justice Work within the Organization

Action 3 – Individual Racial Justice Work

Action 4 – Determine Desired Outcomes

Action 5 – Build Racial Justice and/or Minimize Harm

Action 6 – Commit to Accountability

Action 7 – Embrace the Journey, Continue the Work

The suggested actions in Striving Toward Racial Justice may help reignite teams or provide a framework for this work. Examining and collecting data on racial disparities that may exist internally among staff and externally among client groups is a critical component of the process. However, organizations must resist becoming entrenched in the data collection and examination process. With the mass amounts of data organizations often collect, every analysis will likely lead to additional data-related questions that could delay tangible action and work.

Building on Local Efforts and Expertise

Communities in Pima county have been very fortunate to have had numerous opportunities to participate in comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion training from national technical assistance (TA) providers. Additionally, there are numerous toolkits and other resources readily available online (many of which are recommended in the CTA). This CTA comes from within our community and is developed by people who understand our region, and all of its intricacies. These suggested strategies have been produced by people who have worked within, been clients of, and care deeply about Tucson as their home.

It is with much gratitude that we thank this powerful group of leaders for investing their time, expertise and spirit into this CTA, and the forthcoming leaders who will use this CTA to dismantle and rebuild more equitable organizations.

Special thanks to the University of Arizona Southwest Institute for Research on Women for its leadership in the creation of the CTA and to the CTA authors:

Casey Chimneystar Limón-Condit

Marisol Flores-Aguirre

Anna Harper-Guerrero

Mildred Manuel

Andrés Portela III

Claudia Powell

Claudio Rodriguez