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<br />Overview of past and current anti-racism initiatives <br /> <br />Initiatives ranged from programs led by a small number of volunteer or paid staff <br />focusing on a very specific population (such as a particular neighborhood or children of a <br />specific age in a particular school district), to multifaceted programs with multiple staff <br />people and a wide geographic range. Program budgets also varied greatly, ranging from <br />just a few thousand dollars a year to nearly $4 million annually. Programs ranged in age <br />from less than a year (10 months) to more than 50 years in duration. <br /> <br />Recurring strategies include: <br /> <br />. Raising awareness about the existence of racism, racial discrimination, and racial <br />disparities, particularly with regard to communities experiencing recent and rapid <br />demographic changes. <br /> <br />. Increasing opportunities for inter-racial/ethnic/cultural contact and exchange through <br />such venues as faith conununities, schools, neighborhoods, and business settings. <br /> <br />.. Increasing leadership, decision-making power, and civic engagement within <br />American Indian communities and communities of color. <br /> <br />. Educating American Indian communities and communities of color about their rights <br />and resources available to them, across areas such as education, housing, health care. <br /> <br />. Working with White communities to increase awareness of White privilege and racism. <br /> <br />. Working with organizations and institutions to identify and eliminate systemic, <br />institutionalized racism. <br /> <br />Key themes and issues: <br /> <br />. The perceived lack of outcome measurements and assessments that truly capture the <br />impact of the work undertaken in diverse communities. <br />. The importance of follow-through and action. <br /> <br />. The importance of organizational diversity, leadership from and empowerment of <br />communities of color. <br /> <br />. The importance of adopting a holistic/flexible approach. <br /> <br />. The importance of partnerships and relationships. <br /> <br />. Understanding the interrelationships among different forms of prejudice and <br />discrimination. <br /> <br />Suggestions for addressing racism <br /> <br />We gathered suggestions for addressing racism in the survey of residents, community <br />conversations, and key informant interviews. <br /> <br />An assessment of racism in <br />Dakota, Ramsey, and Washington counties <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />January 2004 <br />