On November 6, 2013 Applied Research Center (ARC) was rebranded as Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation. The content on this page was published on the ARC website prior to the rebrand.

The Compact for Racial Justice is a proactive plan for fairness and unity in our communities, politics, the economy, and the law. It offers concrete strategies and policy proposals to reverse racial disparities and move our society towards full equity, inclusion and dignity for all people.

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Alternatively, you can watch the video by following this link.

Download the Preamble and Issue Essays

Download the Toolkit

Preamble of the Compact for Racial Justice

Residents of the United States are experiencing an unprecedented, inspiring, and transformational moment in our nation’s history. Shouted by some in blazing daylight and whispered by others in dark corners, the lived reality of race and racism is at the center of the American conversation in ways we haven’t seen in nearly half a century.

Far from being a post-racial moment, however, this is a time that calls for unique clarity about the possibilities and dangers we face, and for bold action that is based on our best thinking and highest hopes. [Read the full preamble and essays in the Compact.]

The Compact Pledge

The Compact for Racial Justice seeks to engage a broad multiracial base of activists, opinion leaders, and policymakers in making government and powerful institutions accountable for eliminating racial inequality in our schools, hospitals, courtrooms, and workplaces.

Endorse the Compact Organizationally

The Obama Presidency signals a desire for a new, more substantive discussion about race in America. The Compact for Racial Justice addresses this need by transcending talk of personal prejudice with compelling evidence of institutional racism and realistic proactive solutions. 

Your group can join Compact endorsers like these: Policy Link, AFL-CIO, Green for All, The Schott Foundation for Public Education, The Sentencing Project, The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, Center for Third World Organizing, Californians for Justice, Idaho Community Action Network. 

Listen to the "Compact Forum" conference calls. 

View the “100-days” Race in Review page

Listen to the “100-days” Compact Phone Forum April 28th. (MP3 Audio recording of the full call)

Resources for Race and Recession Compact Forum April 14:

MP3 Audio recording of the full call

Resources for Race and Civil Rights Compact Forum March 31:

MP3 Audio recording of the full call 

Racial Equity Impact Assessment Toolkit (PDF)

POCs and LGBTs: Building alliances that win (VIDEO)

Resources for Race and Immigration Compact Forum March 17:

MP3 Audio recording of the full call

Fair Immigration Reform Movement

Center for Community Change’s Fair Immigration Reform Movement

Center for a New Community inquires at [email protected] or at newcomm.org

Imagine 2050 Blog

Nunu Kidane on Race, Refugees and Obama (VIDEO)

Wrong Then, Wrong Now (VIDEO), the Conversation Guide PDF is here.

Resources for Race and Health Compact Forum March 3:

MP3 Audio recording of the full call

 2008 Health Impact Assessment Report for California (2MB PDF)

Resources from Race and Jobs Compact Forum Feb 17:

MP3 Audio recording of the full call

Ongoing coverage: Racewire.org , AFLCIO.org , Greenforall.org

Resources on the National Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act (PDF)

Racial Justice and the Employee Free Choice Act: Interview with Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO (VIDEO)

The Green-Collar Stimulus: Interview with Ian Kim of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights (VIDEO)

ARC Report: Check the Color Line – Racial Income Gap Chronic Problem Even Before the Meltdown

The Opportunities of Our Economic Crisis: by Steve Pitts, Labor Specialist, Center for Labor Research and Education at UC Berkeley.

Resources from Race and the Economy Compact Forum Feb 3:

MP3 Audio recording of the full call

Campaign for Community Change: Tell the Senate: The stimulus package must reach everyone!

OAP State Budget Press release PDF

Racial Equity Impact Assessments for Economic Policies and Budgets

Racial Equity Impacts in the House Stimulus Bill 
 

Full Contents of the Compact for Racial Justice

(links for individual essays below)

1. Preamble

2. Bush Overview by Dominique Apollon: Director of Research, Applied Research Center

3. Issue Essays

• Civil Rights 
  Karin Wang, Esq.:Vice-President, Programs, Asian Pacific American Legal Center 
  Vincent Eng: Deputy Director, Asian American Justice Center
• Biotechnology 
  Sujatha Jesudason, PhD: Executive Director, Generations Ahead
• Criminal Justice  
  Ashley Nellis: The Sentencing Project 
  Judy Greene: Policy Analyst, Justice Strategies 
  Patricia Allard: Justice Strategies 
  Tanya Krupat: Program Director, N.Y. Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents, 
  The Osborne Association 
  Angelyn Frazer: Families Against Mandatory Minimums
• Green Economies 
  Van Jones: Founder & President, Green for All
• Healthcare 
  Leeann Hall: Executive Director, Northwest Federation of Community Organizations
• Education 
  Tammy Johnson: Director of Strategic Partnerships, Applied Research Center
• Economy 
  Amaad Rivera: Racial Wealth Divide Director, United for a Fair Economy
• Immigration 
  Rinku Sen: President & Executive Director, Applied Research Center 
  Seth Wessler: Research Associate, Applied Research Center

"I signed the pledge because I think it's smart. It's thoughtful, and deliberate about how we can talk about and advance racial justice by talking about environmental justice, by talking about economic justice."

-- Andrea Batista Schlesinger, Exec. Dir. Drum Major Institute for Public Policy 

"The Schott Foundation for Public Education endorsed the Compact because we believe it is important to highlight the challenges in racial and gender disparities, but it's also important to outline the solutions. And that's what the Compact is about."

-- John H. Jackson, President and CEO The Schott Foundation for Public Education