Racial Equity in Public Policy

A Guide to Discussing Identity, Power and Privilege, USC School of Social Work, toolkit on productive discourse around issues of diversity and the role of identity in social relationships. Activities for groups of 10 to 60 people.                        

Talking about Race, National Museum of African American History and Culture, provides guidance for a more equitable and just world for all, focused on exploring how to speak and engage constructively about race.

10 Lessons for Talking About Race, Racism and Racial Justice, Opportunity Agenda (July 2020) provides advice on finding entry points for conversations based on research, experience, and the input of partners from around the country. The messaging guidance is provided along with sample language for each of the lessons.

Using asset-based language together with truth-telling about racial justice, ShelterForce (2019) Miriam Axel-Lute, CEO/editor-in-chief of Shelterforce, blog on the importance of going beyond asset framing to truth-telling and focusing on explicitly pointing out the systems at work—past and present—that cause struggles of places or people.

Could Where You Live Influence How Long You Live?, RWJF interactive map (updated 2020) illustrates how place-based policies and built environments impact life expectancy by entering any zip code in the United States.

Community Engagement Toolkit: A Participatory Action Approach Towards Health Equity and Justice, Center for Wellness and Nutrition and Berkeley Media Studies Group (2020) guides communities and coalitions through a step-by-step process of incorporating effective community engagement strategies into their programs with action-focused activities and resources for exploring issues affecting their communities.

Implicit Bias, Explicit Bias, Racial Anxiety and Stereotype Threat, Perception Institute, mind science research on race, gender and ethnic identities and ways to reduce bias and discrimination in sectors of education, healthcare, media, workplace, law enforcement and civil justice. Discover how automatic processes in the brain shape our perceptions, actions and decision-making and how we can override our biases to bring them more in line with our conscious values.