GARE’s Membership Network is composed of over 80 jurisdictions at the forefront of local and regional government’s work to advance racial equity. The Network is a professional peer-to-peer network that enables government racial equity directors/leads and subject area experts to exchange information, collaborate to advance their practice, and develop solutions to racial equity challenges.
What does it mean to be a member? What are the membership benefits?
Core Members are those jurisdictions that have made a commitment to advancing racial equity across the breadth (all functions) and depth (from frontline staff to appointed and elected leadership) of their jurisdiction. This commitment can be demonstrated by development and implementation of a Racial Equity Work Plan or Strategic Plan, integration of racial equity into other strategic or operational plans, use of a Racial Equity Tool in routine decision making, and/or adoption of legislation that describes the jurisdiction’s commitment.
Associate Members represent individual departments within a jurisdiction. We often see the leadership of an individual department launch racial equity efforts within their own department. When an individual department joins as an Associate Member, their teams can participate in group activities related to their specific department’s focus, as well as other activities on a space-available basis, but cannot apply for Implementation and Innovation Funding.
To learn more about the Membership Network: contact Ariana Flores, Membership Director, at aflores@raceforward.org
Community based organizations, academic institutions, and philanthropy interested in becoming Affiliate Members should contact Gordon Goodwin, GARE Director, at ggoodwin@raceforward.org.