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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.
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.
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, the largest post-election racial 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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.”
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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.
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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!
 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
- Information and resources from exhibitors
Join us virtually to be a part of this impactful event from anywhere!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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