Systems Change for Justice and Equity

The killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police is a devastating, heart-breaking injustice. We stand with Black Lives Matter and millions around the world in calling for justice — not only for George Floyd, but for the many unanswered injustices in a system of structural inequity and violence against Black and Indigenous People Of Color (BIPOC).

We work and live in the heart of Minneapolis communities impacted by these dynamics. We have reflected internally with grief, outrage, fear and hope, and have shared many meaningful conversations about what George Floyd’s death means for our communities and the work of our organization. We’ve mourned, volunteered, donated and joined the collective calls for justice across the country. And we know that change is needed.

A call for systems change

We recognize that the death of George Floyd is not isolated, nor are the many systemic challenges that perpetuate these patterns of inequity.

Addressing disparities in our communities and law enforcement

Our communities are facing some of the highest inequities in the country. Minnesota ranks 45th out of 51 states (this list includes the District of Columbia) when it comes to racial integration, and as is the case both nationally and in Minnesota, deep racial disparities exist in Minneapolis where those killed by police have been disproportionately Black compared to the city’s demographics. This is unacceptable.

Please join us in support of Black Lives Matter and Black Visions Collective, a group whose aim is to implement healing and transformative justice principles to dismantle systems of oppression and violence.

Transforming inequities in food access

Due to recent events, communities who were already food-vulnerable are now in critical need of support. Food deserts are low-income areas that have a significant number of residents living more than 1 mile from grocery stores with healthy food options. In Minnesota, about 1.6 million people (1/3 of residents) lack consistent access to healthy foods. Minnesota ranks seventh-worst for the share of residents with no grocery options close to their home.

We continue to work with Cargill Foundation, the largest funder of Minneapolis Public Schools, to support efforts that address food insecurity and educational disparities in Minneapolis.

Please join us in supporting YouthFarm, Urban Roots, Pillsbury United Communities and Pimento Jamaican Kitchen. These organizations meet immediate food insecurity needs by providing nourishing food and supplies to the community while also addressing systemic challenges through education, tools, markets and gardens in areas that need it most.

Closing the educational opportunity gap

Minnesota ranks among the worst in the nation for disparities in academic achievement, also called the opportunity gap, between students of color and lower-income students and their white and higher-income peers.

Through our work with blended learning platforms and GHR Foundation, we’ve learned that many technologies and innovations are being brought to the table to address this issue. However, much work remains to address the systemic challenges that prevent students and families from getting quality public education. This is best advanced when committed changemarkers work together to share insights and scale successful approaches.

Please join us in continued support of the Page Education Foundation and Minnesota Urban Debate League. These organizations are working to close disparities by supporting the next generation of scholars as they learn, grow and critically examine our systems to lead a more positive future.

To learn more about inequities in our elementary schools, we invite you to watch Love Them First: Lessons from Lucy Laney Elementary. We are proud to have supported this award-winning documentary from KARE 11 as part of a broad community-based steering committee.

Supporting Rebuild Efforts and Energy Justice in Black Communities

Minneapolis and St. Paul communities have faced damage to more than 600 properties, many of which are small businesses already challenged by the impact of COVID-19. This is yet another incident in a long history of economic hardship and structural racism facing Black neighborhoods in Minneapolis. Minnesota’s residents of color are also disproportionately exposed to toxins in their environment, with unequal access to renewable sources of energy. Rebuild efforts will need to address these systemic challenges.

Please join us in supporting West Broadway Business and Area Coalition and Northside Funders Group and Fresh Energy in an effort to restore North Minneapolis and support Northside businesses.

Healing Trauma

Trauma from the past cannot just be erased. There is the trauma of the systemic injustice facing BIPOC. There is the trauma of the death of George Floyd, and countless others in our nation who have yet to see justice. There is trauma at the intersection of identities that many in the BIPOC and LGBTQ community experience. There is the trauma in our communities in the aftermath of recent events. Yet, communities led by BIPOC are coming together in incredibly resilient ways. Leaders of faith are joining together to take action and heal.

Our work with the United Nations’s Religions for Peace has taught us that different communities can align on common values and take meaningful action for good. Our work with Opus Prize has taught us to hope for the future as we champion social entrepreneurs who are using their faith to solve persistent social problems and heal traumas.

Please join us in supporting Face to Face and Reclaim, groups that offer mental health support for homeless and at-risk youth including people of color and queer and trans youth. These organizations work to train practitioners and partner with communities to create systems change at the intersection of gender and racial justice.

We’ve supported the immediate impact of these transformative organizations with a financial donation and have invited our staff to donate with a company match.

Representation and Storytelling

Communications play a critical role in transformation. As we continue to pursue systems change, there is immense value in diverse representation, insight, authored voice and perspective. ADCOLOR is an organization that champions diversity and inclusion in creative industries. Their mission helps individuals and organizations rise up and teach new leaders and would-be mentors how to reach back and find others to support and celebrate. We invite you to attend an event or become a partner.

We believe that diversity powers innovation by bringing important perspectives, identities and stakeholders to the table. And we invite anyone in pursuit of change and transformation to apply to join our team. We are currently hiring changemakers in the roles of project management and graphic design.

There is so much more work to do.

We’re committed to working alongside BIPOC communities to critically examine systemic patterns of injustice and racism, build communications that can support positive transformation and create a more equitable future together.