To view this message in a browser:
[link removed]

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Dear John,

This year marks the 57th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act (FHA), the
final major piece of civil rights era legislation, a law outlawing
racial discrimination in housing and fostering racial integration and
access to opportunity. Today's crisis of housing affordability,
evictions, displacement, and the growing racial wealth gap clearly shows
the FHA's promise has not been fulfilled and access to housing and
property ownership is still deeply racialized. And the current
presidential administration's recent rollback of the Affirmatively
Furthering Fair Housing rule is a further step in the wrong direction.

That's why it's more important than ever to work together toward a
vision of a just housing system in which racial hierarchies have been
eliminated, where housing is a public good, and everyone – regardless of
their race – has affordable and dignified housing. Our Housing and Land
Justice Initiative brings together community coalitions, local government,
and mission-aligned housing development organizations to achieve this
vision. Because housing justice is racial justice.

[[link removed]]

Much of the public discourse about the national housing crisis is
missing considerations of systemic racism and the voices of those most
impacted by housing injustice. At Race Forward, we bring a root cause
analysis of housing injustice and collaborative governance models to win
root solutions for housing justice led by communities of color and supported
by allies in government.

Root Causes of Housing Justice: [[link removed]]

GARE Housing Land and Development: [[link removed]]

— Ryan Curren
Director of Housing, Land, and Development

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Housing Justice is Racial Justice

Community organizers, residents with lived experience of housing
injustice and artists came together for a Housing Justice Narrative
Convening to use positive housing narratives in their campaigns. The
real stories of residents and organizers powerfully remind us why
fighting for housing justice is so important and why it's a critical
racial justice issue.

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Here are videos from the convening that you can use to bring more people
into the movement for housing justice and shift the public debate in
support of housing solutions that address the root causes of our unjust
housing system.

Watch the Full Playlist of Leaders from the Movement
[[link removed]]

WHAT'S NEW?

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Housing and Land Justice Artist Fellows — One Year Later

Last year, Race Forward announced its first ever Housing and Land
Justice Fellowship cohort. Nine artists were awarded $20,000 to produce
an original artwork or cultural production that incorporates the core
narratives from the housing justice story platform published in our
Housing Justice Narrative Message Guide and PolicyLink's Housing Justice
Narrative Toolkit.

Housing Justice Narrative Message Guide: [[link removed]]

PolicyLink's Housing Justice Narrative Toolkit: [[link removed]]

Here's a look at what's moving for four of our HLJ Artist Fellows:

Autumn Breon

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]

Autumn's fellowship project was one of the 14 selected for last year's
Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy. For Memory Portal Tree
[[link removed]]
, she compiled multimedia oral histories of Black descendants from
Southern California whose ancestors experienced land theft at the hands
of white-led local governments. These multimedia were then sculpted into
a tree. Autumn's project highlighted the ongoing efforts coordinated by
the organization, Where is My Land [[link removed]],
and local residents to push the City of Santa Monica to restore
beachfront land back to the family of Silas White, the owner of the
Ebony Beach Club
[[link removed]].

Autumn is currently an artist-in-residence with For Freedoms
[[link removed]], a nonprofit collective centering art
as a catalyst for civic engagement, conversation and action.
Her residency is based at George Washington University and the National Gallery.
Her new project is called PROPHECY BOX, which is an algorithmic (AI) art exhibit,
in the form of old school fortune teller machines. Her exhibit highlights the
prophecies of Black women about our society whether related to politics,
health, culture, etc. that tend to be true.

Follow Autumn on Instagram: @autumnbreon
[[link removed]]

Taishona Carpenter

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]

At last year's Facing Race, Taishona presented the power of media in
racial justice with her interactive art exhibit, "Liberated Archives."
[[link removed]]
This expansive exhibit, produced by Don't Shoot PDX [[link removed]]
for Memory Works for Black Lives [[link removed]],
highlighted themes of systemic oppression, displacement, and
collective resistance in Portland, with an emphasis on the lived
experiences of communities of color. "Liberated Archives" has been
presented throughout the Greater Portland area, including at the
University of Portland and the University of Oregon. Most recently,
Taishona brought the exhibit to South by Southwest (SXSW) in March.

In February, Taishona co-curated "Room for Conversation," an immersive
exhibit at The BLACK Gallery [[link removed]]
featuring an oral history booth that invited visitors to host sit-in's
in the form of civic discussions about pathways to advocacy and mutual
aid. She also produced the "Black, Black History Month"
[[link removed]]
pop-up museum, funded by 1803 Fund.

Don't Shoot PDX will be moving into the Center for Social Justice in
downtown Portland later this year, where its Memory Lab will house a
community archival collection of art and rare books. The location will
also work in partnership with Black-led, trauma-informed art therapists
for public programs. In addition, Don't Shoot PDX is currently working
on an arts and education-based Juneteenth curriculum for incarcerated
youth at the Donald E. Long Detention Center.

Follow Taishona on Instagram: @highimtai [[link removed]]

Lauren Williams

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]

Lauren's vision for housing justice centers the vision of an
abolitionist future. In "Making Room for Abolition,"
[[link removed]]
their in-person and interactive exhibit shows [[link removed]]
audiences how homes and belongings reflect the world outside, especially
in her home city Detroit, Michigan.

Recently, Lauren released a new podcast limited series based on "Making
Room for Abolition." Produced in collaboration with Respair Production
& Media [[link removed]],
"Carceral Fictions & Abolitionist Realities"
[[link removed]]
features six episodes interviewing Detroit-based organizers as they
share their reflections on spatial justice, gentrification, food
justice, water access, educational equity, restorative justice, and
Black liberation.

Follow Lauren on Instagram: @ldubalicious [[link removed]]

Anu Yadav

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]

Anu is producing a one-woman interactive musical entitled, "WE THE
POOR," a semi-autobiographical play featuring original songs about a
young South Asian woman who lives with her mother after her father has
passed away. In the midst of their grief, the young woman goes against
her mother's wishes and joins a local tenant union to challenge the
unsafe housing conditions they experience. The play will engage
audiences by inviting them to bring mementos honoring their ancestors
(familial or otherwise) and to share their hopes and dreams for their
neighborhoods and communities.

Follow Anu on Instagram: @anuyadavishere [[link removed]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Root Solutions for Housing and Land Justice

Local communities are organizing for transformative housing solutions,
while racial equity practitioners in local government work to implement
these solutions effectively. "Root Solutions for Housing and Land
Justice" is a new series of briefs highlighting successful race-informed
policies and programs that inspire others to build equitable housing and
community wealth models.

Each brief presents race-informed policies and plans that address root
causes of racial disparities in housing and development. These briefs
build on the analysis presented in Race Forward's "Root Causes of
Housing and Land Injustice" series.

[link removed]

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Our first brief offers case studies on affordable housing funding
practices. This resource supports community members seeking
transformative housing solutions, government partners, and
mission-aligned housing finance and development organizations.

Learn More
[[link removed]]

Policy Innovation Lab — 2024 Recap

Public policy has wide implications that affect individuals and
communities. However, traditional policymaking often operates in siloes
that exclude their most vulnerable constituents.

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Race Forward's Policy Innovation Lab aims to disrupt traditional policy
development, positioning local communities as owners and decision-makers
over policies that directly affect their daily lives. Here's a look at
last year's working session with our cohort members Food for the Spirit
[[link removed]], Philly Thrive [[link removed]]
, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance [[link removed]],
and Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) [[link removed]].

Watch the Recap Video
[[link removed]

Learn More About PIL
[[link removed]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What's next?

Just Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity Save 15% with Early Bird
Pricing!

Early bird rates are now available for our first ever multi-day
convening for narrative strategists, communicators, creatives,
storytellers, racial justice advocates, and movement builders. Just
Narratives for Multiracial Solidarity–the anchor event for Cultural Week
of Action 2025 —
[[link removed]]
represents Race Forward's commitment to building both the narrative
and cultural power needed to advance a just, multiracial democracy.

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

At Just Narratives, we'll:

* Align our narrative and cultural strategies to shift hearts, minds, and
policies towards a more just and thriving future

* Strengthen cross-racial, cross-movement solidarity to withstand our
opposition's efforts to divide us

* Identify and advance impact storytelling for collaborative governance
that our communities and movements need and deserve

* Share lessons learned using art, culture, and media to amplify
narratives for racial justice

* Ignite the mass courage needed to make our racially just future
undeniable

Limited tickets are available at our lowest rates until May 5. Get yours
today and join us in St. Louis this November!

Register Today [[link removed]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take action

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

We Make History Everyday

Shop online at our new store and choose from an array of products like
shirts, water canteens, hats, and sweaters. No matter the weather, we
make history together!

Shop Our Store Today!
[[link removed]]

Subscribe to The Fire We Face Newsletter

The Fire We Face is a newsletter for those committed to protecting
democracy, racial equity, and public service in the face of systemic
threats. As we monitor the Trump Administration's embrace of Project
2025 and other anti-democratic, racist initiatives, The Fire We Face
will document actions targeting federal agencies and civil servants
striving to serve the public equitably. Through in-depth analysis,
reflections, and tangible examples, this newsletter aims to empower
readers with the knowledge to understand and navigate these challenges.

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Sign up here for updates!
[[link removed]]

Sign the Solidarity Pledge

It takes people power to bring on the necessary change our communities
need. Our partners Make the Road and CASA in partnership with other
immigrant rights groups, have filed a FOIA demanding info on the Trump
Administration's new guidance authorizing arrests in sensitive
locations.

Over 5K people across the country have signed the #SolidarityPledge.
Join the movement by signing the pledge at solidaritypledge.org!

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Take the Pledge! [[link removed]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Image:
To see the original, click here:
[link removed]
Target URL: [link removed]

Follow us on Bluesky!

Given the current political climate and our declining engagement on
Twitter, we have made the decision to remain inactive on Twitter until
further notice.

To keep the conversation going, we encourage you to join us on Bluesky.
Be a part of an ever-growing network of racial justice advocates as we
continue to share engaging content that moves the needle to a just,
multiracial democracy.

Follow @raceforward.org [[link removed]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John, solving the housing crisis requires exposing
and changing policies, practices, systems, and structures that create
racial disparities that harm us all. But we remain steadfast in our
vision for housing and land justice as a critical pillar of our
multiracial democracy. May you take this time during Fair Housing Month
to explore how you can become a part of the solution.

In solidarity,

Race Forward

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 [[link removed]]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You're receiving this because you have requested communication from Race Forward
[link removed]
.
Manage your email subscriptions
[link removed]
.

Copyright © Race Forward, PO Box 96353, Washington, DC 20090-6353, USA
Having trouble reading this email? View it in your browser
[link removed]
.