To kick off Black History Month, we are sharing information to highlight some of the work being done by our Charity Alliance partners in the racial justice space. This three-part series presents ways we can all address injustice here at home, abroad and with our families. The first post features ways to learn and take action specifically in the United States.
Although this topic is front of mind during this heritage month, our charity partners place priority on fighting injustice all year long. We value their commitment to make advancements in this important work, and we hope you’ll learn alongside us as we dive into these resources.
Ashoka
Ashoka Fellows are social entrepreneurs and change-makers whose work addresses the defining issues of our time. There are many Ashoka Fellows that are addressing systemic racism and its effects, spanning across topics such as data and tech, education, criminal justice reform, finance, health and more. View their list of Fellows working closest to these issues; some of the organizations led by Ashoka Fellows include Data 4 Black Lives, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and Prosecutor Impact.
CARE
CARE’s work to end poverty centers on the intersection of gender and equity. If you’re interested in learning more about the ways structural racism, gender and class-based oppression connect in the U.S., we recommend their Rapid Gender Analysis: COVID-19 in the United States. Their findings are gender balanced and inclusive, offering policy recommendations and highlighting systemic gaps in the data around race and gender.
Direct Relief
In their work with community health centers, Direct Relief sees the direct correlation between racism and health inequities in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on disparities in access and care among racial and ethnic minorities, and Direct Relief’s work in health equity seeks to address these gaps. Learn more about how supporting local clinics and community centers makes a difference for communities that need support.
ECPAT
Learn how race has impacted the the way human trafficking survivors experience the U.S. justice system with ECPAT-USA’s Survivor Perspectives. The series asks survivors how they feel in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, their interactions with law enforcement, what they’d like the criminal justice system to know about human trafficking, and their thoughts on the correlations between race and sex trafficking.
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch documents, investigates and analyzes human rights abuses around the world and in the United States and offers resources on racial discrimination in the United States. Its research explores policy recommendations ranging from ending police violence, systemic issues contributing to poverty, mass incarceration and the failings of the criminal justice system, and more. Readers are able to use this research to engage with elected officials and advocate for change at a structural level.
International Justice Mission
In their podcast, The New Activist, the International Justice Mission features conversations with activists and leaders tackling the world’s largest humanitarian and social issues. They have episodes that explore justice here in the United States, such as their conversation with Latasha Morrison that Global Impact featured on a previous blog post. She covers her work with Be the Bridge, gives perspective on the Black Lives Matter movement, and helps listeners engage in these issues and find ways to take action in their own lives.
PATH
For those who like data visualization, learn about health and racial inequities in the U.S. with PATH. The charity published a breakdown of a peer-reviewed study that highlights the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black communities. The research explains how racism is an ongoing public health crisis and why we need better data to inform evidence-based policy changes.
Read Part II and Part III in this series, where we explore the work of our Charity Alliance members fighting for racial justice in a global context and how to talk to your kids about this important topic.
