Anti-racism is the heart of our work.
The Center for Leadership and Justice recognizes that the only true way to live out our mission “to develop leaders who act collectively for social justice in Greater Hartford” is to commit fully to being an antiracist institution. This antiracism commitment influences how we hire, structure organizational leadership, do business, and importantly how we organize.
Our various faith traditions all call us to honor the dignity of all persons. This requires that we unmask, understand, dismantle, and eradicate racism in all its forms. Therefore, we in GHIAA ground our work in the following truths:
- Racism is the combination of racial prejudice plus power. It shows up in personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural realms.
- We all participate in these realms, and thus all of us are shaped by the racism around us.
- Racism impacts everyone. This impact is felt differently in the lives of White people and People of C
- Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) individuals have experienced racism on a personal level ranging from microaggressions to losing loved ones to violence. This has provided expert understanding of what it is to experience racism, that no one asked to have.
- White people bear a particular responsibility for dismantling the systems and structures of racism.
- Racism is intertwined with all issues of justice in our society.
- Racism unaddressed will destroy us.
- An antiracist approach requires us to shift systems, power, and resources. This work also takes place in personal, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural realms.
- As an authentically antiracist institution, we will experience deeper relationships and take more effective actions.