How are regional hubs developed and supported?
Because racial inequities cut across city and county boundaries, expanding relationships that support the development of regional cross-jurisdiction, cross-sector strategies is critical for maximizing our impact. For cross-jurisdictional work to be effective, it is important that a critical mass of jurisdictions have begun to implement efforts aimed at eliminating institutional racism within their own jurisdiction. A critical mass within a region can help to normalize the expectation that government can and should be working to advance racial equity.
Current Regional Organizing:
Northwest – The Governing for Racial Equity (GRE) Network in the Northwest was a precursor to the establishment of the national GARE network, and was originally convened by the City of Seattle. GRE encouraged additional jurisdictions to also launch racial equity initiatives in the NW and across the country. This approach demonstrates that regional organizing can be used to build the field of practice between jurisdictions and increase the engagement of new jurisdictions. (GARE Northwest Project Manager – Nora Liu)
Midwest – A number of early adopters formed the core of participation in the Midwest, whose participation was further catalyzed by the partnership with The Minnesota League of Cities, which joined forces with GARE to conduct an Advancing Racial Equity Learning Year training series since 2016. Midwest jurisdictions are meeting quarterly with meetings being organized and facilitated by GARE.
In addition, Twin Cities jurisdictions are meeting semi-regularly, as initiated by member jurisdictions. The purpose of the Twin Cities regional group is to provide a supportive environment for problem solving and brainstorming, planning local events, and strategizing on new areas of collaboration. (GARE Midwest Project Manager – Gordon Goodwin, )
West – GARE has conducted Advancing Racial Equity Learning Year cohorts in Northern and Southern California since 2016, engaging more that thirty jurisdictions. In 2018 there will also be a pilot Learning Year established for state agencies and departments co-created with the Strategic Growth Council’s Health in All Policies Initiative. Shorter training series are under development to allow other regions of the state to engage in advancing racial equity practices in the coming year. Jurisdictions in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah have also recently joined or expressed interest in doing so. (GARE West Project Manager – Amalia Alarcon Morris; GARE California Project Manager – Leslie Zeitler)
South – GARE has conducted trainings in several states in the south, most recently in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and Arkansas. New members have joined most recently in Asheville, Durham, and Raleigh, and several more jurisdictions are anticipated to do so shortly. (GARE South Project Manager – Shawna Davie)
East – In addition to longstanding members Boston and Fairfax County, new jurisdictions are emerging as anchors of work in the East, including communities ranging in size from Brookline, Massachusetts to New York City.(GARE East Project Manager – Jaqueline Tucker)
As we achieve critical mass in geographic regions, we will be helping to organize government across new regions. Through the regional networks, we create access to a peer network for all government leaders in the United States working on racial equity. For more information about regional work and cohorts, please contact our Network Manager.