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Dear John,

How are you? No, really—how are you?

Like many, you're likely still processing the election results that saw
Donald Trump secure a second term as president. If you're feeling the
weight of this outcome, know this: We see you. We hear you. We feel it
too. While this week may feel particularly daunting, it's a powerful
reminder of why our work matters and why we must continue it
together—with renewed determination.

Real, lasting progress requires playing the long game with persistent
effort. Dismantling structural racism demands collective power and
resilience. We're committed to continuing this work alongside you, our
partners, and our communities.

Read our full statement here.

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We've been in this fight for the long haul—since Race Forward's founding
in 1981—and we're not backing down now. It's time to redouble our
organizing efforts.

Join us for our webinar #RaceAnd the Way Forward: Racial Justice After
the 2024 Elections.

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Despite the challenges, there's still hope and progress to celebrate.
This election saw historic firsts that represent real shifts in
representation and power—shifts that you helped make possible:

Two Black women, Angela Alsobrooks and Lisa Blunt Rochester, won U.S.
Senate seats in Maryland and Delaware, respectively.

New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim became the first Korean American elected to the
Senate.

Delaware state senator Sarah McBride became the first openly transgender
person elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Moreover, several states, including Missouri, Arizona, and Montana,
voted to expand abortion access and defend reproductive freedom. When we
organize, mobilize, and stand together, we can win.

From November 20-22, we're gathering in St. Louis for Facing Race
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justice conference in the United States. Join us to debrief, strategize,
and collectively map our path forward. In-person tickets are sold out,
but virtual tickets are still available—for now.

Get your virtual ticket today.

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What's new?

Race Forward Honors Native American Heritage Month

With over 574 federally recognized tribes in the US, the Native American
diaspora is rich with diverse traditions, customs, and cultures. Race
Forward celebrates Native American Heritage Month throughout November as
a time to honor Indigenous peoples' vital contributions to our
multiracial democracy.

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How to Resist an Authoritarian Takeover

Project 2025 poses a profound authoritarian threat to democratic
governance and our vision of a just, equitable, and multi-racial
democracy. It seeks to dismantle the core democratic functions of public
administration and potentially weaponize federal agencies against
marginalized communities. This could have disastrous consequences for
communities of color, workers, immigrants, middle- and working-class
families, women, and LGBTQ+ people.

This toolkit shares strategies that can help block Project 2025's power
grab. This toolkit offers strategies to:

* Resist potential authoritarian takeover attempts
* Block efforts to undermine democratic institutions
* Address long-term injustices that fuel authoritarianism
* Transform public administration into a force for equity and justice
* Review recent progress and build on successful initiatives

Download the Toolkit Today
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Grassroots Organizing for Racial Justice in Schools

This week, Race Forward President Glenn Harris and HEAL Together Senior
Organizing Director James Haslam joined the Defense of Democracy
podcast, hosted by Karen Svoboda, to talk about the history of public
education, the #PublicSchoolStrong campaign, and how public education
serves as the foundation for a just, multiracial democracy.

Find the Episode on Your Favorite Streaming Platforms
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Political Violence and the 2024 Elections

In a recent poll, two-thirds of American adults said they were concerned
that "extremists" will commit acts of violence following the 2024
election if they are unhappy with the results. This should come as no
surprise. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
warned that among other threats the 2024 election cycle will be a  "key
event for possible violence."

Race Forward's Executive President Eric Ward recently joined experts to
discuss these threats and potential mitigation strategies.

Watch it Here
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Karla Bruce Joins Race Forward as Chief of Staff

Race Forward welcomes Karla Bruce, former Chief Equity Officer for
Fairfax County, Virginia, as our new chief of staff.

"I am thrilled to join Race Forward after years of working alongside the
organization as a partner," Bruce said. "At this critical moment in our
nation, I am particularly excited to be leading the implementation of
our new Strategic Plan which focuses on community and government
collaboration to create pathways for equity and inclusion as we continue
to work toward building a multiracial democracy."

Full Statement Here
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The Day That Trump Won—Reflections From a Black Mother

This 2016 article offers a poignant, personal account of a Black
mother's experience following Donald Trump's election victory. Sunshine
Muse describes her struggle to inform her children about Trump's win and
the challenging conversations she had with her son about politics,
racism, and survival strategies.

With Trump's re-election in 2024, readers may feel a sense of déjà vu.
Muse's reflections on the 2016 election are likely to resonate deeply
with the emotions many are grappling with now.

Read it on Colorlines
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What's next?

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The nation's largest conference for racial justice—available online!

Can't attend #FacingRace in-person? You can still join us online!
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As a virtual attendee of the Facing Race Conference, you'll gain
exclusive access to the event app, where you can engage with the entire
community of attendees—both in person and online. The app offers
numerous networking opportunities and valuable resources. With your
virtual ticket, you'll receive access to:

* Pre-recorded breakout sessions on key topics
* All mainstage plenaries, including the keynote speech from Joy-Ann Reid
* Opening ceremony to kick off the conference
* Race Flicks, a micro film festival track
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* Information and resources from exhibitors

Join us virtually to be a part of this impactful event from anywhere!

Register by November 19!
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In Our Power

Our Facing Race conference theme, "Our Power, Our Solutions," isn't just
a catchy phrase–it's a clarion call that resonates deeply with St.
Louis' residents and community leaders.

Meet Dr. L.J. Punch, a trauma surgeon, educator, and activist, focused
on reducing the impact of gun violence trauma through radical
generosity, harm reduction, accessible clinical and self care, and
advocacy. As a member of the Facing Race Local Host Committee, Dr. Punch
helps ensure the conference programming reflects the lived experiences
of St. Louis residents.

Meet our Host Committee – Starting with Dr. Punch
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#RaceAnd The Way Forward: Racial Justice After the 2024 Elections

This year's election–both the outcome and the broader response to
it—will deeply impact the racial justice movement. At play are
foundational questions for our country, the purpose and values of our
institutions, and whose interests will our institutions serve.

This month's #RaceAnd conversation offers you the space to:

Debrief the election results and offer an analysis of the implications
on racial justice work and the larger movement.

Identify threats and opportunities for the movement for racial justice
in light of the election results and the larger response by influential
groups to those results.

Offer recommendations for next steps for organizations and leaders
seeking to advance racial justice in light of the election results.

This webinar is open to all individuals working to advance racial
equity, whether their from government, arts, nonprofits, philanthropy,
community organizing etc. This webinar will be recorded for those who
register. ASL will be provided.

Join Us November 13!
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Services for Organizations

Race Forward is committed to transformational, sustainable change for
racial justice. We provide services to help organizations develop and
advance racially equitable policies and practices.

Our services are developed and delivered by a multiracial and
multigenerational team of experts with extensive knowledge and
experience in various areas, including policy and program development,
leadership development and strategic coaching, community organizing, and
racial equity.

Learn More
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John, throughout history, our movements have faced
seemingly insurmountable odds, yet we've persevered time and time again.
The path to justice isn't linear, but our commitment to building a just,
multiracial democracy remains unwavering.

This election isn't an ending—it's another chapter in our ongoing
struggle for collective freedom and liberation. Let's rewrite that
chapter together.

In solidarity,

Race Forward

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