#iwtv#interview with the vampire#assad zaman#the vampire armand
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At Policy Link...this is a room fulla folks talking power, philanthropy, racism, and change...parsing democratizing institutional practice... #policylink #equitysummit2018 (at Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago)
Transit Trends Episode 11: Transportation Equity
New episode of #TransitTrends: intvw w/ @policylink director on transportation equity
Transportation is a critical link to opportunity, connecting people to jobs, schools, affordable housing, health care, grocery stores, and more. For many Americans, mobility can make all the difference in their ability to meet basic needs, participate fully in community life, and connect and contribute to our national economy. In…
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Recently, a delegation from Pittsburgh attended PolicyLink's Equity 2015 Summit. I am writing a series of blogs to highlight recurring themes I observed and share the best practice strategies I learned. These blogs reflections of my own experience during a three day national conference. My first blog post on the PolicyLink Equity Summit 2015 focused on people because without people you do not have community. This second blog focuses on various social factors and strategies. A big theme throughout the sessions was "now is the time". As a country we at a point in time where the momentum is bringing together people from all walks of life around common interests, to build the movement of movements. This movement of movements is going to dismantle systems of oppression and create equity for community that have been marginalized for long enough. It is clear that the power is with the people - leaders at the local level are informing the movement on a national level. It is incredibly inspiring and beyond beautiful to be a part of. 1. Place Matters. But Place Changes. Where you live dictates how well you live. However "improving" a neighborhood can price out long-time residents. Equitable communities build healthy individuals - equitable communities do not become unlivable for them. PolicyLink has a great report outlining the importance of place which you can see by clicking here. 2. Collaboration. The movement of movements brings together marginalized populations who are in the struggle against a common oppressor. Our liberation is intertwined. We must have each other's backs since we cannot all be in the same spaces at once. The fight is the same but the movement will only move as quickly as trust is built. For examples of what cross-movement collaboration can look like, check out The Justice League in New York by clicking here and the Organization for Black Struggle by clicking here. 3. Intentionality. Be intentional about how you approach solutions. Be honest about the issue you are addressing. Use language and outreach strategies that are appealing and relevant to those who are affected. Data-based strategies are the best ways to address inequities. When engaging the public ask yourself - how are people being received and cared for in the spaces you are creating for engagement? Providing childcare, food and transportation not only helps to get people to a community meeting but it also signals that people are valued and their needs are understood. 4. Language - Language is not just about which language you speak - whether you speak English, Spanish, Portuguese or Mandarin - it is the actual words that are used. It is the difference between saying "I care about safe streets" and "I care about gun violence". Historically, in marginalized communities words such as "planning" or "development" are equated to changing the neighborhood and pricing long-time residents out. If the intention of a community process is to strengthen and elevate the existing community, then it is important to use language that resonates with neighbors. Otherwise, planning efforts encounter resistance. 5. Local Leadership - The leadership exists. Invest in it. Community members are already engaged in conversations on a daily basis about the changes they want to see and the vision they have for their neighborhoods. If we asks residents to share their knowledge and time there should be some type of or support compensation for those who are leading the effort. 6. The Arts - At the Equity Summit the arts were front and center. Each day was kicked off by live performances, dance, poetry, song and comedy. Many of the sessions I attended began with spoken word. This was incredibly moving and I was often brought to tears by these performances - I was inspired. The arts gives us a unique opportunity to communicate complicated emotions and concepts in a way that everyone can relate. They are an integral part to ensuring our communities are not only healthy but that they tell the story of who we are. The PolicyLink website contains a wealth of more information for further research.
Our Moment: Claim the Torch
“ A Movement is not a flash of light –- it is a flame, a torch passed from one generation to the next, and every so often we are blessed with moments where the smolder transforms to blaze again, and we’re forced to race down the path of progress.”
“Witness this moment in history turned blaze”, Mayda de Valle, spoken word poet
PolicyLInk Equity Summit, 2015
#Equity2015 Part I
In this new Pittsburgh, we hear a lot about the importance of diversity. Diversity is important because it breeds innovation and opens new markets. Less frequently, but still spoken about is inclusion. Inclusion is important because without inclusion, diversity is a passive action that does not engage people in the decision-making process. And then there is equity. Equity is ensuring that whatever economic gains there are, people on all levels are benefitting. Equity is so important that it even has it's own manifesto, click here to read it.
Recently, a delegation from Pittsburgh attended PolicyLink's Equity 2015 Summit. This summit brought together a cross section of community leaders, policy wonks, government officials and researchers from across the country who have been working on building equity in their own communities. It was an amazing chance to see what is working in other places. I am writing a series of blogs to highlight recurring themes I observed and share the best practice strategies I learned. These blogs are not expert pieces, but rather reflections of my own experience during a three day national conference. The PolicyLink website contains a wealth of more information for further research.
This first blog post will focus on people. I am starting with the people part of the equation because without people, we do not have community. Often we devalue and leave out individuals and groups based on historical bias, poor data collection, greed and straight up racism. To address that, we must be intentional in calling out those who have lived on the margins and centralizing their lived experiences as it relates to economic gain.
The New America. The United States is undergoing the largest demographic shift of its history. By the year 2043, we will be a "majority minority" country. This means we will be a population largely made up of people who are Black, Latino and Asian (note: Asia the continent, not one culture). Addressing structural racism is imperative to ensuring that all Americans are able to live well. Pittsburgh in particular must not only address equity, but must catch up with the rest of the country with regards to population demographics. It remains one of the whitest metropolitan areas in the country, which is problematic for population growth. It impacts the tax base and ability of the region to remain competitive in an increasingly global world. Learn more about America's demographic shift by clicking here.
Youth of Color. As American population demographics change, our youth are largely Black, Latino and Asian. This is America's future workforce. To ensure a productive and competitive American workforce in the future, we must invest in their education and well-being now.
Women. Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and friends - women are the gatekeepers of society. The mental, physical and emotional health of women impacts families, their ability to parent and general contribution to society. Educating women, ensuring access to quality jobs, affordable housing, comprehensive healthcare and quality childcare provides a stable foundation for future generations.
Black Women. Faced with some of the largest health and economic disparities in our society, Black women hold an incredible amount of power and grace. They are the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs and are the most active, consistent and progressive segment of the Rising American Electorate or New American Majority. If Pittsburgh is going to be an economically successful region, then it must be a place where Black women and their families are able to thrive.
#LGBTQ4Equity. These are not just letters; they are people. When we think about access, affordability and equity - gender, identity and sexual orientation cannot be taken out of the equation. Policies that are meant to be inclusive and do not consider how they impact these aspects of people identities are not inclusive. This goes beyond employment policies and extends to affordable housing, access to healthcare, quality jobs, freedom from violence and other social support systems.
Native & Indigenous Communities. Inequity, as it exists in the United States, began with the destruction of the Native and indigenous communities that existed here prior to European invasion. The disparities are deadly. Yet, we are not often engaged in a conversation around equitable development as it relates to Native and Indigenous people. One of the speakers on a plenary was Nick Tilsen, the founding Executive Director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He spoke of the importance of focusing on youth and supporting #BlackLivesMatter as it is dismantling structural oppression. Tilsen was incredibly moving. And he reminds us of how large the equity pie has to be. To learn about the work being done by the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation click here.
My subsequent blog posts will focus on strategies and movements that are pushing the equity agenda nationwide. You can also find additional blogs about the Equity Summit by clicking here.
#Equity2015 Part I
In this new Pittsburgh, we hear a lot about the importance of diversity. Diversity is important because it breeds innovation and opens new markets. Less frequently, but still spoken about is inclusion. Inclusion is important because without inclusion, diversity is a passive action that does not engage people in the decision-making process. And then there is equity. Equity is ensuring that whatever economic gains there are, people on all levels are benefitting. Equity is so important that it even has it's own manifesto, click here to read it.
Recently, a delegation from Pittsburgh attended PolicyLink's Equity 2015 Summit. This summit brought together a cross section of community leaders, policy wonks, government officials and researchers from across the country who have been working on building equity in their own communities. It was an amazing chance to see what is working in other places. I am writing a series of blogs to highlight recurring themes I observed and share the best practice strategies I learned. These blogs are not expert pieces, but rather reflections of my own experience during a three day national conference. The PolicyLink website contains a wealth of more information for further research.
This first blog post will focus on people. I am starting with the people part of the equation because without people, we do not have community. Often we devalue and leave out individuals and groups based on historical bias, poor data collection, greed and straight up racism. To address that, we must be intentional in calling out those who have lived on the margins and centralizing their lived experiences as it relates to economic gain.
The New America. The United States is undergoing the largest demographic shift of its history. By the year 2043, we will be a "majority minority" country. This means we will be a population largely made up of people who are Black, Latino and Asian (note: Asia the continent, not one culture). Addressing structural racism is imperative to ensuring that all Americans are able to live well. Pittsburgh in particular must not only address equity, but must catch up with the rest of the country with regards to population demographics. It remains one of the whitest metropolitan areas in the country, which is problematic for population growth. It impacts the tax base and ability of the region to remain competitive in an increasingly global world. Learn more about America's demographic shift by clicking here.
Youth of Color. As American population demographics change, our youth are largely Black, Latino and Asian. This is America's future workforce. To ensure a productive and competitive American workforce in the future, we must invest in their education and well-being now.
Women. Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and friends - women are the gatekeepers of society. The mental, physical and emotional health of women impacts families, their ability to parent and general contribution to society. Educating women, ensuring access to quality jobs, affordable housing, comprehensive healthcare and quality childcare provides a stable foundation for future generations.
Black Women. Faced with some of the largest health and economic disparities in our society, Black women hold an incredible amount of power and grace. They are the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs and are the most active, consistent and progressive segment of the Rising American Electorate or New American Majority. If Pittsburgh is going to be an economically successful region, then it must be a place where Black women and their families are able to thrive.
#LGBTQ4Equity. These are not just letters; they are people. When we think about access, affordability and equity - gender, identity and sexual orientation cannot be taken out of the equation. Policies that are meant to be inclusive and do not consider how they impact these aspects of people identities are not inclusive. This goes beyond employment policies and extends to affordable housing, access to healthcare, quality jobs, freedom from violence and other social support systems.
Native & Indigenous Communities. Inequity, as it exists in the United States, began with the destruction of the Native and indigenous communities that existed here prior to European invasion. The disparities are deadly. Yet, we are not often engaged in a conversation around equitable development as it relates to Native and Indigenous people. One of the speakers on a plenary was Nick Tilsen, the founding Executive Director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He spoke of the importance of focusing on youth and supporting #BlackLivesMatter as it is dismantling structural oppression. Tilsen was incredibly moving. And he reminds us of how large the equity pie has to be. To learn about the work being done by the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation click here.
My subsequent blog posts will focus on strategies and movements that are pushing the equity agenda nationwide. You can also find additional blogs about the Equity Summit by clicking here.
#Equity2015 Part I
In this new Pittsburgh, we hear a lot about the importance of diversity. Diversity is important because it breeds innovation and opens new markets. Less frequently, but still spoken about is inclusion. Inclusion is important because without inclusion, diversity is a passive action that does not engage people in the decision-making process. And then there is equity. Equity is ensuring that whatever economic gains there are, people on all levels are benefitting. Equity is so important that it even has it's own manifesto, click here to read it.
Recently, a delegation from Pittsburgh attended PolicyLink's Equity 2015 Summit. This summit brought together a cross section of community leaders, policy wonks, government officials and researchers from across the country who have been working on building equity in their own communities. It was an amazing chance to see what is working in other places. I am writing a series of blogs to highlight recurring themes I observed and share the best practice strategies I learned. These blogs are not expert pieces, but rather reflections of my own experience during a three day national conference. The PolicyLink website contains a wealth of more information for further research.
This first blog post will focus on people. I am starting with the people part of the equation because without people, we do not have community. Often we devalue and leave out individuals and groups based on historical bias, poor data collection, greed and straight up racism. To address that, we must be intentional in calling out those who have lived on the margins and centralizing their lived experiences as it relates to economic gain.
The New America. The United States is undergoing the largest demographic shift of its history. By the year 2043, we will be a "majority minority" country. This means we will be a population largely made up of people who are Black, Latino and Asian (note: Asia the continent, not one culture). Addressing structural racism is imperative to ensuring that all Americans are able to live well. Pittsburgh in particular must not only address equity, but must catch up with the rest of the country with regards to population demographics. It remains one of the whitest metropolitan areas in the country, which is problematic for population growth. It impacts the tax base and ability of the region to remain competitive in an increasingly global world. Learn more about America's demographic shift by clicking here.
Youth of Color. As American population demographics change, our youth are largely Black, Latino and Asian. This is America's future workforce. To ensure a productive and competitive American workforce in the future, we must invest in their education and well-being now.
Women. Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and friends - women are the gatekeepers of society. The mental, physical and emotional health of women impacts families, their ability to parent and general contribution to society. Educating women, ensuring access to quality jobs, affordable housing, comprehensive healthcare and quality childcare provides a stable foundation for future generations.
Black Women. Faced with some of the largest health and economic disparities in our society, Black women hold an incredible amount of power and grace. They are the fastest growing segment of entrepreneurs and are the most active, consistent and progressive segment of the Rising American Electorate or New American Majority. If Pittsburgh is going to be an economically successful region, then it must be a place where Black women and their families are able to thrive.
#LGBTQ4Equity. These are not just letters; they are people. When we think about access, affordability and equity - gender, identity and sexual orientation cannot be taken out of the equation. Policies that are meant to be inclusive and do not consider how they impact these aspects of people identities are not inclusive. This goes beyond employment policies and extends to affordable housing, access to healthcare, quality jobs, freedom from violence and other social support systems.
Native & Indigenous Communities. Inequity, as it exists in the United States, began with the destruction of the Native and indigenous communities that existed here prior to European invasion. The disparities are deadly. Yet, we are not often engaged in a conversation around equitable development as it relates to Native and Indigenous people. One of the speakers on a plenary was Nick Tilsen, the founding Executive director of the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. He spoke of the importance of focusing on youth and supporting #BlackLivesMatter as it is dismantling structural oppression. Tilsen was incredibly moving. And he reminds us of how large the equity pie has to be. To learn about the work being done by the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation click here.
My subsequent blog posts will focus on strategies and movements that are pushing the equity agenda nationwide. You can also find additional blogs about the Equity Summit by clicking here.
Love how #PolicyLink incorporated the youth and art throughout #Equity2015 #EquityPGH @sarahhhmillerrr #KatrinaSarahMiller
