What is GARE’s approach to addressing racial inequities?
GARE leverages a multi-sector approach to address racial inequity. GARE proactively integrates areas of expertise of each of the partners, working intentionally to build the movement for racial equity across multiple sectors, including academia, government, and community-based organizations. The GARE Membership Network is organized via a Steering Committee and committees based on work plan priorities, including regional networks and subject area working groups. In addition, a Technical Assistance Advisory Group is made up of national leaders on racial equity. These leaders are experts in topics, and provide issue and practice expertise to GARE.
What does it mean to be a member? What are member benefits?
GARE’s focus is working with governmental jurisdictions. We recognize, however, that more comprehensive government engagement is often seeded by work within individual departments, people and community based organizations. Therefore, we offer three types of membership, Core Membership, Associate Membership, and Affiliate Membership.Membership is on an annual basis. Jurisdictions may become members at any point during the year, with renewals taking place on an annual basis. Click here to learn more.
How do I become a GARE Member?
Jurisdictions interested in becoming Core or Associate members of GARE should complete the application form available here.
Already a Cohort Member? Jurisdictions that are currently a part of a “Leadership Cohort” and will automatically become members of the Network. Existing agreements will remain in effect until their expiration, at which point, the jurisdiction will be invoiced for a membership renewal.
Jurisdictions that are currently enrolled in one of the regional “Advancing Racial Equity: Turning Theory into Practice” cohorts will have the opportunity to complete the GARE Network application form and become GARE Network members for the duration of the cohort.
What responsibilities do I have as a Member?
The GARE Network is built on principles of solidarity, mutual learning, and exchange of promising practice. As such, there are basic expectations of members:
- Regular Participation. Representatives from every jurisdiction are expected to take part in monthly membership calls, engage in subject area working groups, and regularly update their membership profiles, listings, and contributions to the members-only web platform. If possible, representation from every jurisdiction should attend the annual membership meeting as well, which occurs at a rotating location each Spring.
- Implementation of GARE-supported Models. Jurisdictions should actively be working to employ strategies demonstrated throughout the GARE network to be effective in advancing racial equity in their institutions by normalizing the conversation, operationalizing improved systems, and organizing for structural transformation.
- Contribute to the Field of Practice. Members are expected to share their experiences and promising practices regularly through the diversity of avenues available to the network, including blog posts, membership calls, the e-newsletter, leadership interviews, contributions to working papers, and other kinds of profile opportunities. In whichever way a jurisdiction chooses to participate, the network relies on at least two contributions annually.
- Spread the Word. The network is only as strong as its members’ willingness to grow it. Jurisdictions are expected to share awareness of the benefits of participation in GARE with their neighboring and allied municipal partners, and encouraged to alert staff regularly to potential new members they encounter in the field.
How does the network communicate?
- Overall, the GARE Membership Network communicates via monthly conference calls and e-mail updates.
- Agendas for the monthly calls are based on priorities identified in the work plan and emerging topics identified by the Steering Committee.
- An annual meeting / convening takes place to do deeper planning, share technical and practical expertise, and organize
- A members-only Dropbox site provides a mechanism for members to share resources. The members only Dropbox file contains meeting agendas, notes, documents and resources.
- Communication amongst regional and subject-area working groups varies depending on the preferences of the members involved.
- The GARE Membership Network directory provides a mechanism for making network-within-the-network connections based on lines of business or areas of work.
- GARE’s website provides an outward facing platform that provides information about GARE broadly.