Introduction from the editors

The Richmond Racial Equity Essays launched in 2021 with the goal of promoting thought leadership and public dialogue toward advancing racial equity in Richmond, Virginia, but also as a multi-media model for other cities grappling with how to disrupt systemic racism and the ways in which is has and continues to show up in the the places we live, work and play. The project was designed to highlight both the racial issues our communities face by exploring history and data, as well as highlight solutions from the personal and professional experiences of practitioners at various vantage points of the work. The essays, interviews and podcast have been explored by people from all over Richmond (and around the world), in classrooms as well as businesses and social sector organizations. As a response, we have created a very simple discussion guide to help readers move through and explore the material in collaboration with others in their community, as a way to reflect, to deepen their learning and as a catalyst for conversation that moves toward action.

This guide is broken up into the eight sections that were outlined in the e-book anthology. Each section in this discussion guide includes: a short introduction to the topic, the Richmond Racial Equity Essay readings and media content, discussion questions and activities, as well as examples and additional resources. It is not exhaustive, but is a way to help others start the conversation.

We hope you enjoy your learning journey and that this guide helps you bring others in your community along.

Ebony + Meghan

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Introduction

Message from the Authors

Section I

Introduction

Planning for Inclusive Communities

Urban planning concerns itself with the design and uses of space (or land) that focus on the physical form, economic functions, and social impacts of the built and natural environments in cities, towns and places in our communities. Although...

Section II

Introduction

Section III

Building Sustainable and Affordable Housing

Housing is a basic need around which our health and stability is built, our neighborhoods are centered and housing (through homeownership) is a cornerstone for wealth building. Thus access to...

Section III

Ensuring Education Equity
The quality of one’s education has a significant impact on both their access to opportunity and life outcomes. Yet, many Black and Brown children lack the access to a quality education within....

Section IV

Section III

Section IV

Advancing Economic Empowerment

The link between capitalism and systemic racism has been with us even before the founding of the United States, as using people for profit is one of our country’s original sins. The compounding...

Section V

Section III

Section IV

Shifting Power and Reimagining Partnerships

Central among our ongoing reckoning with racial justice is the question of how power is shifted and shared through partnerships. Historically marginalized communities...

Section VI

Section VIII

Section VII

Lifting Up Latino Leadership and Language Access

Latinos will soon be a majority in many cities across the U.S., yet the numbers of Latino leaders continue to lag across sectors as compared with other groups. This inequitable distribution of power...

Section VII

Section VIII

Section VII

Creating Community, Healing, and Justice

In the journey to dismantle structures of white supremacy there must be attention paid to community rebuilding and healing. Trauma from racism has negatively impacted Black and Brown people, and...

Section VIII

Building a Healthy Environment

Most U.S. localities are legally tasked to make decisions that protect the health, safety and general welfare of its inhabitants. While environmental health should be provided for all populations, communities...

Section IX

Section VIII

Summary

Thank you for reading, watching, and listening to the content from the Richmond Racial Equity Essays. We hope this guide helped you delve deeper into the material and furthered your learning and...

Introduction from the editors

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Featured Essays and Media

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Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

Section I

Introduction

Introduction

Section II

Introduction

Section III

Section III

Section III

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Section IV

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Section V

Section III

Section IV

Section VI

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Section VII

Section VII

Section VIII

Section VII

Section VIII

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Section VIII

Section IX

Section IX

Section VIII

Introduction from the editors

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Featured Essays and Media

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Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

Section I

Introduction

Introduction

Section II

Introduction

Section III

Section III

Section III

Section III

Section IV

Section III

Section IV

Section V

Section III

Section IV

Section VI

Section VIII

Section VII

Section VII

Section VIII

Section VII

Section VIII

Section VIII

Section VIII

Section IX

Section IX

Section VIII

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