The tragic events of the last several weeks have shed light on the destructive impact of racism on our society, our families, and our children. Sadly, our country’s challenges with racial equity are mirrored in our own community, as evidenced by the shooting of Atatiana Jefferson in October 2019 and the lived experience of too many of our fellow North Texans.
The solutions and capacity to address these issues exist in our community, and we are grateful for all those already engaged in this important work. This month, we will announce the first round of grants from the Fund to Advance Racial Equity in partnership with our friends from Rainwater Charitable Foundation, Sid W. Richardson Foundation, The Miles Foundation, and other investors. The Fund’s goals and objectives were developed over the past six months in collaboration with diverse local community leaders and law enforcement officials. Over time, our hope is that grants made from this fund will help:
> Increase understanding of our community’s challenges with racial equity and race relations;
> Provide access to stories and diverse perspectives on the lived experience of racial inequity;
> Strengthen relationships among residents, particularly across racial and ethnic groups;
> Increase awareness of resources and best practices related to advancing racial equity;
> Drive notable changes in practices – systemic, organizational and/or individual – that perpetuate racial bias and discrimination; and
Strengthen relationships between members of law enforcement and local residents, fostering mutual understanding and thereby increasing safety and security for all North Texans.
North Texas Community Foundation is committed to advancing racial equity and applying these principles to ourselves and our work. We look forward to working with you, hand-in-hand, to lay the foundation for a community that is strong for all generations to come.
Nothing less will do.
