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By, Dr. Elana Needle, States Advancing Racial Equity (SARE) Co-lead at State of Equity with contributions from Dr. Rashaad Abdur-Rhaman, Director of State Strategies at GARE

In April 2026 more than a dozen racial equity practitioners from Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont convened in Boston to defend and protect racial equity efforts and boldly advance a shared strategy. This inaugural convening’s purposes were to build power, institutionalize systems change, and create and strengthen interstate connection. Shiva Darbandi, a state government practitioner in Maine catalyzed this endeavor by articulating a desire to build stronger connections in the region and establish a greater sense of support among the state government agencies doing aligned work around equity and social justice. Many of the represented agencies have been active in programs and convenings hosted by GARE as well as States Advancing Racial Equity (SARE). They have also been steadfast in consistently advancing equity efforts within their states.

Day one of our convening was devoted to grounding and relationship building. Sessions explored establishing trust and shared understanding, mapping ecosystems, and thinking about  durable relationships as essential infrastructure. Our mapping enabled us to identify who is missing, and what alliances need to be established. We identified assets across the region to develop a better sense of what is in place, what work has been ongoing, where there might be questions, and what we don’t yet know.

Day two of our convening turned toward intention and coordinated action with space for reflection and gaining deeper understanding of structures or models that could inform the shape of collaboration. As participants explored potential structures for the collaboration (e.g., the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, interstate compacts), they articulated why it is helpful to have colleagues across state lines as examples and supporters  and their hopes for potential shared work. While technical strategy is critical to success, meaningful and durable relationships with other state level government practitioners are also necessary.

On day three of the convening, we synthesized, provided next steps and laid the groundwork for our next in-person convening. Themes that emerged from our time together:

• • • • Genuine and authentic relationships are critical to doing the work
      • There is power (and some protection) in numbers
      • Coordination is key
      • A collaborative approach must be flexible and durable
      • Shared ownership and risk management will help sustain this effort

Lastly, we embarked on place-based learning at the Museum of African American History. Spending time understanding where we were meeting, and experiencing this together helped strengthen newly formed bonds between and among us.

Participants found the convening to be energizing, informative, renewing, validating, and inspiring, expressing support for continuing to engage in the coalition. Attendees found value in the initiative and were confident that their colleagues were similarly committed to the effort. Dr. Puthiery Va, a participant from Maine reflected, “That’s the beautiful thing about state government; we are really serving all communities… This gathering in and of itself, us sharing ideas, learning from one another is helping influence the way we are thinking about problem solving and the solutions. It’s an opportunity to be coordinated and be more strategic.” Shannon Massacroco, Chief Program Development / PREA Coordinator, Division of Youth Development, Rhode Island shared, “Thank you for continuing to create the opportunity to meet and get together. We don’t have enough of this. The work that we’re doing in this realm, is not part of our actual jobs. And so to have someone supporting us on something we are passionate about is validating and also empowering.”

As we have outlined in our recently published resource, state governments have the power to step in and maintain standards where the federal government has retreated. This includes racial justice, environmental protection, workers’ rights, health, education and more. Now is the best time for states to look beyond their borders and build robust coalitions with shared objectives. The state agencies in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont that joined for this first interstate regional convening understand that we must stand together to build the power required to meet this moment and defend our hopes of a multiracial democracy. New England is poised to do big things as their concept of the “bigger we” expands. We invite others working at the state level to connect with GARE and SARE and learn more about how we are working with states to advance racial equity efforts. Here are a few ways to get involved:

• Are you a state-level government racial equity practitioner in New England, including Connecticut and New Hampshire? We’d love to chat and get you involved in this effort! Please email statesstrategy@gmail.com with questions or expressions of interest.
• Do you have regional partnerships across states and would like to explore SARE supporting your efforts? Please email statesstrategy@gmail.com with questions or expressions of interest.
• Sign-up here to attend the monthly SARE Community of Practice. We feature state agencies around the country who are leading best practices, invite experts to discuss frameworks for racial equity, and facilitate a space for networking and relationship building.
• Join GARE today to become part of the largest membership network in the nation of government servants committed to racial equity. We need you and your colleagues to be part of that network so that we can fight back with collective strength
• Already a GARE member? Find and join your regional group in the GARE Online Community and let us know if you are interested in organizing in your region. We are happy to help.

States Advancing Racial Equity (SARE) is a joint initiative between GARE, State of Equity (SoE), and American Pride Rises with the goal of supporting state government institutions in establishing, sustaining, and delivering on racial equity, so that all families and communities can live long, healthy, joyful lives no matter their race, class, or zipcode.

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