The Importance of Racial Equity and other news from Community Science

[Announcement from SCRA-L]

May 2013 SPOTLIGHT ON: More Conversations, But Still No Easy Answers For many communities, racial equity is a moving target  Racial equity is a simple phrase, but a complex subject. For the purpose of discussion, it means, briefly, that racial identity no longer limits individuals and communities from achieving their full potential. From public services to community attitudes, racial equity is challenging to assess, perplexing to measure, and difficult to achieve. When the term is used, racial equity begins to take on characteristics of racial justice, compelling evaluators to address root causes of inequities, not just their manifestation. This includes elimination of policies, practices, attitudes, and cultural messages that reinforce differential outcomes by race or fail to eliminate them. Despite the complexities of racial equity, Community Science, along with its partners and clients, has found understanding and acknowledgement to be critical first steps towards getting closer to equity on the individual, community, and system and population levels. Acknowledgement is a particular challenge in that equity, especially when it comes to race, is not a topic many wish to openly discuss -- much less recognize and try to correct. "Another issue is that some inequalities aren't even acknowledged because in those communities, the existing situation is considered 'normal,'" stated Kien Lee, Ph.D., Principal Associate, Community Science. "In all the work we do at Community Science, equity is always the context we're working in." "We're realistic - there is no magic bullet,  no single answer that creates racial equity in a given situation. Neither is there a magic bullet for assessing and measuring racial equity.  But what we can achieve is getting communities to recognize  the problem, discuss it openly, and identify signs, no matter how small they may be, that tell us we are helping to move the needle  in the right direction." -Kien Lee, Ph. D. Though inequities exist in many of the communities that Community Science works with, recognizing those inequities requires a close look at a number of factors. These include the power held by some groups of people, distribution of resources in a place, history and current events. "We try to understand specifically how inequalities play out in the communities we serve, no matter the project," Dr. Lee explained. "It's why you hear 'cross-culturally competent' come up repeatedly in our work." In Community Science's work, cross-cultural competency means having the knowledge, skills and other abilities to understand how research, evaluation and other capacity building assistance can affect the inequalities at play as well as accounting for measures of equality and equity in the research and evaluation design. What Community Science hopes to do through the design of its research and evaluations is to shine a light on inequalities and share with communities the tools and information to develop solutions that work for their unique situations. In addition, active participation of the affected people is also necessary to move towards equity. It all comes together to set a starting point and define specific inequalities that can be measured and monitored over time and using multiple methods.   However, even that isn't without its challenges. The role of an evaluator often becomes that of conflict mediator when discussing the results of the research or evaluation where inequity is at play. "From beginning to end, we have to be very aware of the situation," Dr. Lee continued. "Who's talking to who, which stakeholders are on-board, and who we have to bring together. It's not our formal role as the "traditional" researcher or evaluator, but we often have to step up to move things along." Fortunately, progress is being made. In a national conference in November 2012, Knowledge for Equity - designed, managed, and facilitated by Community Science with assistance from several national organizations and support from the Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department Health and Human Services, Community Science convened over 100 community-based organizations to discuss the role of data, generated through research and evaluation, in solutions for ending health disparities. Participants had the opportunity to attend workshops about data collection, interpretation, and use. They were also able to interact with federal agency representatives to discuss the availability and accessibility of public data. More recently, in a workshop with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grantees in Mississippi, Dr. Lee and Community Science Managing Associate LeKesha Perry discussed the signs of progress towards racial equity in the state as well as tools for recognizing, assessing, and monitoring racial inequities.  Community Science has another opportunity to address and evaluate efforts related to racial equity through its work with the Connecticut Health Foundation, which is striving to ensure health equity for all residents in Connecticut, regardless of their race and ethnicity. Through their evaluation of the Foundation's goal to support healthcare reform, they hope to learn more about what it takes to use evaluation to advance racial equity. "In some cases, you'll need additional individual assessments, interviews and focus groups," Dr. Lee said. "But in many cases, the data - from graduation rates to health outcomes - is already out there." To learn more about Community Science's work in racial equity, systems change, and cultural competency, click here. Associate Spotlight  LeKesha Perry, Managing Associate As the managing associate on the evaluation of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's place-based work in Mississippi, LeKesha Perry (also known as Kesha to her friends and colleagues) helps to implement the day-to-day activities of this impactful, exciting project from the Community Science office in Starkville, MS.  She works closely with the rest of the evaluation team in Maryland to collect and analyze data, deliver training and technical assistance services related to evaluation and information management, and attends relevant activities throughout the state. She is integral to ensuring that the evaluation design and implementation of the Kellogg Foundation's work in Mississippi occurs within the context of the state's history and current social, economic, and political dynamics. Kesha has experience working with local elected and non-elected leaders in communities across the state to address policy change. She has conducted trainings for a wide range of people, from municipal officials to citizens on topics such as civic education and leadership development. She supervised students in Mississippi State University's Master of Public Policy Capstone Program; the students worked on projects that dealt with a variety of issues, such as community change, voter participation, and education disparities.  Currently, Kesha is pursuing a doctorate in public policy and administration at Mississippi State University. In her free time, Kesha enjoys blogging about various topics, traveling, and defeating her family and friends in Ruzzle.   On Monday, May 6, 2013, Kesha made her second annual presentation to the Cal Ripken Sr Foundation. The Ripken Foundation has worked for two years with youth from underserved areas in Mississippi. The Foundation brings them to Mississippi State to expose them to a college campus-for almost all participants, this is their first time experiencing life on a college campus. The Foundation also brings in speakers who have overcome challenges to attend college -- like Kesha. "It is a tremendous honor for me to look back and see where my life had a few more challenges than most, yet to overcome them with help of great teachers and caring people, now it's my time to help others realize that same possibility." Additional Reading: Learning More About Racial Equity The following publications and articles are related to the manifestations and root causes of inequities: Critical Issues Forum II: What About Capacity Building for the Capacity Builders? (Foundations & Intermediaries) by Kien Lee, Ph.D. Marking Progress: Movement Toward Racial Justice by The Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity Evaluation with a Diversity Lens: Exploring its Functions and Utility to inform Philanthropic Effectiveness by Ricardo A. Millett, Ph.D.    The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (2012) by Michele Alexander Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White (2002) by Frank Wu   Racing to Justice (2012) by John Powell In This Issue The Importance of Cultural Competency Associate Spotlight: LeKesha Perry What We're Reading CLIENT SPOTLIGHT CLIENT SPOTLIGHT: The Connecticut Health Foundation The Connecticut Health Foundation strives to improve the health and well-being of individuals and families in Connecticut.  Its new strategic direction for 2013 to 2017 is to expand health equity to all Connecticut residents, regardless of their race, ethnicity, background, or income level.  Community Science has been working with the Foundation on its efforts to promote health equity since 2007, focusing then on its efforts to improve patient and provider interactions. Today, we are helping the Foundation monitor and evaluate its goal to leverage opportunities to advance health equity in reforming health care.  Click here for more information about the Connecticut Health Foundation.    Conferences   of note:    The Society for Prevention Research 21st Annual Meeting May 28-31, 2013     Hyatt Regency  San Francisco  San Francisco, CA    "The Science of Prevention: Building a Comprehensive National Strategy for Well-Being" Join colleagues for the most important prevention science conference of the year! The Society for Prevention Research envisions a wellness-oriented society  in which evidenced-based programs and policies are continuously applied to improve the health and well being of its citizens, fostering positive human development and citizens who lead productive lives, in caring relationships with others. The Society for Community Research and Action (SCRA) Biennial Conference   June 27-29, 2013     University of Miami  School Of Education and Human Development  Coral Gables, FL "Communal Thriving: Pursuing meaning, justice, and well-being" The 2013 Society for Community Research and Action biennial conference will take place on Thursday, June 27 - Saturday, June 29, at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida USA. Preconference workshops and activities will take place on Wednesday June 26. For more information about the conference, click here.    Join Us! If you are a motivated, conscientious professional who can help us take the practice of social change through science and capacity building to a higher level, Community Science wants to hear from you.   In fact, Community Science is currently recruiting for the following positions: Senior Associate in Community Change Research & Practice  (Washington, DC)   Associate in Research and Capacity Building (Washington, DC) To learn more about each position, or apply now, visit the Community Science CAREERS page. Our New Look Notice a change in the  design and look of The  Change Agents?      We want to thank Eyebyte Solutions for dressing us up so nicely! About Community Science Community Science is an award winning research and development organization that works with governments, foundations, and non-profit organizations on solutions to social problems through community and other systems changes. To learn more, visit our PROJECTS page.  To discuss how Community Science can collaborate with your organization, contact us at 301-519-0722 or info@communityscience.com Community Science | 301-519-0722 | info@communityscience.com | http://www.communityscience.com 438 N. Frederick Ave. Suite 315 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Copyright © 2012. All Rights Reserved.