The Racial Equity Institute

Upcoming Virtual Racial Equity Institute Two-Day Workshop June 27-28th, Register: https://bit.ly/REIJune27

The disparity in federal contracting reflects entrenched systemic inequities. In FY 2023, Black-owned businesses secured just $9.99 billion in federal contracts, less than 1.3% of the $774 billion total. This imbalance stems from a history of racial exclusion that Affirmative Action has failed to adequately address. For decades, majority-owned, often white-led businesses have dominated taxpayer-funded projects, benefiting from a racially non-competitive environment that fostered monopolies and a “good old boy” network. This exclusionary system ensured the same firms maintained dominance in industries like construction. Between FY 2020 and FY 2023, the number of Black-owned businesses awarded contracts grew by only 315, while their share of federal dollars stagnated at $9.5–$9.99 billion. Meanwhile, total federal contracting expanded by 12.4%, from $689 billion to $774.6 billion, further highlighting the growing disparity. This data underscores the failure of current measures to create equitable access to taxpayer-funded opportunities, perpetuating racial disparities and economic monopolies.

Hurricane Helene left devastation across the Southeast and Appalachia after making landfall in the Big Bend Region of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane last week. Storm surge and high wind speeds left destruction along Florida’s west coast, and rainfall records were broken along the storm’s path, with western North Carolina receiving some of the highest rainfall counts—more than 30 inches in some places. More than 100 people lost their lives due to the storm. We’re hearing from farmers in our network how dire the situation is in western North Carolina. In Asheville, where some of the worst flooding occurred, people are experiencing limited access to food, water, electricity, and cell phone service. Most of the roads into and out of Buncombe county are inaccessible, and many farms in the area have sustained major crop damage and are underwater. We have resources listed below for people impacted by the storm who are looking for disaster relief, as well as ways to support people who were impacted by the storm that we encourage you to contribute to. —— Hurricane Helene Aid: https://heleneaid.com/ Ways to Donate to People Impacted in Western North Carolina: https://lnkd.in/e9xu6qJz Hurricane Helene Relief for Southern and Central Appalachia - Appalachian Voices: https://lnkd.in/e87iUSue Hurricane Helene Farmer Relief Fund - RAFI-USA: https://lnkd.in/ekDCjXKj Resources for Helene Response and Relief - Carolina Farm Stewardship Association: https://lnkd.in/e3idQume

Here is a list of resources we have shared with our folks in Ashe & Watauga counties. Sharing here as image and text in case it is useful to others. Please be careful not to share old or questionable information so we don't waste the resources folks do have at this difficult time. We will date stamp all of our updates. Live document here or at the link in bio: https://lnkd.in/eTzDdpQH -- WNC Hurricane Recovery Resources Compiled by DownHomeNC.org Updated: 9/30/24 at 5:58 pm IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF RESCUE IN WNC DUE TO HURRICANE Contact NC Search and Rescue Center Dial 211 or 1-888-892-1162 Find Missing Person(s) Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) if you are unable to locate a friend or family member and that person has a serious, pre-existing health, mental health condition or Functional and Access Need. Apply for Disaster Assistance Information from https://lnkd.in/eZfrzyQw Due to Pres. Biden major disaster declaration, people in affected counties can now apply for assistance with FEMA. Ways to apply: Online by visiting disasterassistance.gov Calling the FEMA HELPLINE at 1-800-621-3362 If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service. Help with needs that FEMA can’t provide The FEMA Helpline (800-621-3362) may be able to provide additional referrals. If you use a video relay service, captioned telephone service, or other communication services, please provide FEMA the specific number assigned for that service. Travel Info Rt. 421 is open to Wilkesboro Live road conditions: dial 511 or go to https://drivenc.gov/ FOOD and Supplies Boone - Hunger & Health Coalition 141 Health Center Dr. Ste C Boone, NC Open to all 9am-4pm Monday-Friday beginning 9/30/24 MAIN LINE: 828-262-1628 PHARMACY: 828-264-5212 https://lnkd.in/e_6x9-Zs Working with partners to gather food, water, meals, and medicine supplies. Some allergen friendly food available and protein supplements as supplies last. Boone - Hospitality House Food Pantry 338 Brook Hollow Rd. Boone, NC 7 days a week 12pm-4pm Statewide - Express Scripts Emergency Prescription Refills From 9/25/24 - 10/5/24, Express Scripts emergency refill protocol in place for all of NC. If you can get online, click here and follow instructions: https://lnkd.in/ehBi7UKW If you need additional help, call Express Scripts toll-free at 877.363.1303. NC Dept of Health & Human Services - food assistance www.ncdhhs.gov or 866-719-0141

TODAY! National Voter Registration Day is the country’s largest single-day voter registration drive. As many as 1 in 4 eligible Americans are not registered to vote. Each year, millions of Americans are walled off from the democratic process due to easily solvable issues such as missing a registration deadline or failing to update a registration after moving. It’s this reality that brought National Voter Registration Day into existence in 2012, and has kept it going strong ever since. #vote

Announcing new workshops open to the public, 2-day and 3-hour trainings. Learn more and register here! https://lnkd.in/dnmvisq2

A few years back, organizations like the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Global Genes, EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases, and others initiated efforts to address the racial and ethnic disparities in the rare disease space. These endeavors led to the formation of the Rare Disease Diversity Coalition and the hosting of annual equity summits. In alignment with these crucial initiatives, The Racial Equity Institute and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative are collaborating to offer training workshops that aim to establish a racial framework for stakeholders dedicated to doing the work of health equity. By fostering a common language and shared analysis, we can fortify our efforts against racial inequities in healthcare. These training sessions are being offered to umbrella organizations, non-profits, federal regulators, clinicians, scientists, and more within the rare space. The goal is to unite stakeholders under a shared analysis, empowering us to prioritize equity and better support all rare disease patients. Together, with a collective commitment to equity, we can drive impactful change in the rare disease community. Please message me if you are interested in attending.

Get ready to Break Fake Rules with leading antiracist scholar and director at the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, CEO of Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO) , Marcus Walton, and Stupski Foundation CEO, Glen Galaich! Catch a sneak peek 👀 of the episode dropping on July 17 on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. “We have been taught that freedom is chaotic, so we’ve run back into slavery,” says Dr. Kendi. Find out which fake rules we need to break to create an #antiracist society. Subscribe to Stupski Foundation’s YouTube channel to get notified when the full episode drops. ⏰ https://lnkd.in/gNupMBB9 #BeAntiracist #BreakFakeRules #BecauseChangeCantWait #StupskiFoundation #GrantmakersforEffectiveOrganizations #Philanthropy

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) make up only 3% of U.S. colleges and universities but enroll 10% of all African American college students. HBCUs have educated 70% of the country’s Black doctors, 80% of its Black judges, 40% of the Black engineers and the current U.S. vice president. HBCUs play a vital role in narrowing the income and wealth gap by elevating families from lower-income backgrounds to higher incomes at nearly double the rate of predominantly white institutions. Kresge's support for these institutions dates back to the 1940s and includes more than 60 grants and $75 million. This article details those investments that continue today. https://lnkd.in/ex2P3nNF #HBCUs #highered

5 days left to register! REI 2-day Open Session June 27-28 https://bit.ly/REIJune27