Allow me to be direct: I’m emailing you today to ask for your financial support of Facing Race. As a non-profit, Race Forward is only able to bring the country’s largest racial justice convening to fruition with the financial support of our community.

WHY FACING RACE? Our moment is now. We know that issues of race, poverty, and gender have been intentionally weaponized to sow division—with Black people, Indigenous people, and all communities of color bearing the brunt of the impact. But we, the racial and social justice community, have the resilience and power to alter our country’s course by countering oppression and, instead, building an equitable future for all communities of color. Facing Race is a home for all of us in the movement looking for collaboration, networking opportunities, research, best practices, and professional development. We need this space and each other, as backlash against racial equity gains is growing and this work will only get harder.

FOR THE MOVEMENT. For over forty years, Race Forward has been catalyzing movement building, with the goal of creating a just, multiracial, democratic society–one where people of color thrive with power and purpose, free from exploitation and oppression. Facing Race has been shining a light on the most pressing racial justice issues and highlighting best practices for justice and equity work since 2004. We know from experience that when the movement comes together, we see wins and make deeper progress in our individual and collective communities.

FOR THE PEOPLE. Since 2004, our biennial convening has welcomed nearly 15,000 people into space at Facing Race. Organizers, academics, educators, equity practitioners, students, politicians, community members, and artists; coming from for-profit and non-profit sectors, representing organizations of all sizes.

FOR THE FUTURE. We continue to grow alongside the movement. Your generosity of our 2022 event supports a truly transformative 3-day experience, providing access to four different workshop tracks: Institutional & Sectoral Change, Movement & Community Driven Solutions, Narrative Arts & Culture, and Racial Identities & Innovation. 

FOR DEMOCRACY. A just and equitable society isn’t possible without a functional democracy, and we cannot make that happen without everyone at the table. Race Forward’s vision represents a community-driven and publicly-anchored model for our future. Facing Race is the space where everyone’s tables intersect and we can best elevate our collective power.

Thank you for your passion and support for Race Forward, as we move together toward a just, multi-racial democracy in which we all thrive. 

In strength and solidarity,

Glenn Harris

President of Race Forward and Publisher of Colorlines