(BALTIMORE – July 26, 2023) – The very first Baltimore Black Racial Equity Organization Summit is set to take place on Thursday, July 27th, 2023. Associated Black Charities (ABC), a Baltimore-based racial equity organization will serve as the convener of the event.
Equity organizations, including ABC, are actively working to dismantle systemic racism and promote more equitable outcomes for the Black community. These organizations tackle a wide range of issues, such as education and housing discrimination, concerns about criminal justice, the racial wealth gap, economic disparity, and unequal access to healthcare. Each organization is working tirelessly to address these issues, and they all face similar challenges in their work. Establishing a strong, collective voice may be essential in advocating for policy changes and other systemic reforms that will benefit the Black community, and ultimately, all of Baltimore. ABC’s new leadership feels it is crucial for these organizations to know what each other’s goals and objectives are, and to come together and collaborate.
Black equity organizations play a crucial role in dismantling systemic racism and creating more equitable outcomes for Black communities, and ABC has invited other local organizations focused on racial equity for the Black community in Baltimore to have interactive discussions, to share, and to help the organizations work more cohesively. A goal of working together to create a unified voice that speaks to the systemic issues that affect the Black community in Baltimore is at the forefront of ABC’s efforts.
“Like many other wonderful organizations, Associated Black Charities is knee-deep in racial equity work that we want to be impactful and meaningful for Baltimore,” said Chrissy M. Thornton, President and CEO of Associated Black Charities. “Since my onboarding, I have realized the great need for all of us doing this important work locally to be connected. I strongly believe the complex challenges facing Baltimore’s Black communities require a collective effort and a collaborative approach. By working together wherever possible, Black equity organizations can leverage our unique perspectives, resources, and expertise to create a more effective and impactful movement towards achieving significant change.”
The summit aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, skills, resources, and best practices among the participating organizations which include the Baltimore City Branch of the NAACP, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle, Black Girls Vote, The ACLU of Maryland, United Way of Maryland, CLLCTVLY, and more.
The event will begin with a presentation on the State of Equity, Justice, and Inclusion in Baltimore, delivered by Dana P. Moore, Baltimore’s Chief Equity Officer and Director of Baltimore’s Office of Equity and Civil Rights. The agenda will also cover organizational updates, identifying shared goals and objectives, communication, coordination, collaboration, community building, resource and capacity building, and topics related to intersectionality, inclusivity, and allyship.
For more information about Associated Black Charities and its racial equity programs, visit the organization’s website at www.associatedblackcharities.org.
Founded in 1985, Associated Black Charities is a racial equity organization that works as an educator, advocate, supporter, and convener to address and eliminate the barriers created by structural racism and to advance long-term solutions that create new opportunities for Black people to thrive. ABC acknowledges structural racism’s effect on the racial wealth gap, workplace discrimination, health inequity, disparities in housing policies and practices, educational inequality, discriminating and dehumanizing laws and policies, and more. Using an equity framework as a convener and thought leader to end race-based barriers that impede Black people from having an opportunity to succeed is at the heart of all of ABC’s programmatic initiatives.
https://www.associatedblackcharities.org