No matter who we are, where we live, or what issues we advocate for, we all want safe neighborhoods and the right to protest injustice or exercise our constitutional rights without being met by troops. Yet right now, we're witnessing a coordinated assault on these basic freedoms as military-style immigration raids terrorize communities, diversity, inclusion, and equity programs are being dismantled, and government-sanctioned policies deliberately harm Black and brown communities.

In this climate, advancing racial equity inside government might feel like a non-starter. For many federal employees, pushing for change from within has become risky or outright unsafe. But this is precisely why we must double down on the work inside governing institutions—because when authoritarian forces capture government to serve their own interests, communities of color suffer most, and our collective safety, prosperity, and freedom hang in the balance.

We invite you to join us Thursday, July 31, for our #RaceAnd Lessons Learned from Federal Public Administration webinar, where you’ll hear from former federal leaders on how they advanced racial equity in government.

Even in the midst of backlash, public servants across the country have long engaged in what John Lewis called "good trouble," finding creative ways to protect communities and advance equity from within the system. In the years following the 2020 uprisings, dozens of federal agencies launched large-scale efforts to address systemic racism and repair harm. These programs, built from the inside out, offered powerful models for how government could center racial equity—not just as a value, but as a measurable practice.

Now, in this moment of retrenchment, we’re asking:

What do we do with the knowledge they gained? What lessons can we carry forward—locally, nationally, and across movements?

On #RaceAnd Lessons Learned from Federal Public Administration, you’ll hear about:

• Programs and agency-wide shifts that advanced racial equity inside federal institutions
• The realities of navigating internal resistance—and external political threats
• How the lessons from federal work are being used now at state, local, and movement levels
  

This webinar isn’t just for people in government.

If you’re a community advocate, organizer, or public sector strategist, you’ll gain:

• A deeper understanding of the federal government’s evolving role in racial equity
• Insight into how large institutions can both support and stifle equity efforts
• Practical guidance on defending and applying racial equity strategies—even in hostile environments

Help shape the conversation:

We’re collecting questions ahead of time. What do you want to ask these federal equity leaders?

Even in a moment of deep resistance, the work doesn’t stop. It evolves. Join us to explore what’s been done—and what’s still possible.

In solidarity,

Race Forward