Sheerine Alemzadeh

We should be clear that our movements and movement leaders are targets for right-wing disinformation, legislation, strategy, and violence. And those attacks are well-funded.

18

1 Comment

Despite Houston’s reputation for affordability, its Black residents are among the hardest pressed by gentrification. In a new report, Manann Donoghoe and I explore how community land trusts (CLT), non-profit organizations that purchase homes to expand and preserve affordable housing, and shared-equity organizations can help marginalized communities in places like Houston. There are tradeoffs with the CLT model. For example, it limits the total equity that an owner-occupier can accrue and the land itself always remains in trust, rather than transferring to the occupier. Nevertheless, CLTs provide an avenue for giving local community members, who are otherwise priced out of property ownership, a stake in neighborhood development. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etsUUZ6T #CommunityUplift #Housing #Innovation

202

17 Comments

Everyone wants to live in a safe and vibrant neighborhood. Yet, too many neighborhoods have deteriorated to the point where neither of these baseline conditions are present. I'd like to live in a Chicago where every neighborhood has basic amenities that are walkable, where there are a variety of housing options with various price points, and where there is a virtuous cycle of business development. I don't think there is any debate on the statement above. However, reasonable people can disagree on how we get from where we are now to where we want to be. Article below, represents the thinking coming out of North Philly: 1. Support for Non-profit Acquisition of Real Estate 2. Support for Residential & Commercial Tenants 3. Support at the Intersection of Local Residents and Legacy Businesses I welcome a healthy debate on what to build and how to finance it. Please weigh in :)

22

2 Comments

Powerful conversation with Everjoice Win - engaging and inspiring. Follow the link and listen in 👇🏿👇🏿

4

1 Comment

📌As an #Advocacy Consultant, I tell you for free that advocacy requires collective effort for collective impact. 📌If we want to see things change for the better, then we have to work hand in hand, utilizing various platforms like the CSAAE Advocacy Networks to create awareness about the problems plaguing our community, identify allies and engage key stakeholders who have the power to turn the situation around. 📌Join us to learn how to actively participate in advocacy efforts for sustainable development. 👇👇👇 https://lnkd.in/dag-NZMV

9

I was happy to contribute my experiences supporting schools through anti-bias education to combat bullying for Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago's 2024 Bullying Report. You can find my comments on p. 11 of the report, and also pasted below. Thanks to CIS for highlighting such an important and pervasive issue in our schools! https://lnkd.in/gRy6vfPu “The time to fix the roof is when the sun is shining.” For three years, Ms. D. served as an assistant education director, where she supported public schools with creating positive cultures and climates. The program she guided teaches students how to have intentional conversations about identity and empowers them to become agents of change in their school buildings. In Ms. D’s experience, the need for schools to address culture and climate has only increased post-pandemic. Harmful words shared by students online trickle over to the classroom. Moreover, she said, instances of identity-based bullying among young people are on the rise. This could be verbal slurs and physical threats directed at their peers based on their racial, ethnic, or religious background, sexual orientation, gender, immigration status, and more. If you view hate as a pyramid, Ms. D. said, with biased thoughts as the base, you can see how thoughts and attitudes escalate to biased acts (like bullying) and even more extreme forms of violent behavior. Ms. D.’s work in anti-bias education centers around interrupting the biases at the base level before they manifest into action. “The time to fix the roof is when the sun is shining,” Ms. D. said. The program also provides bias incident response training for school staff so they can serve as allies for students – and not label them as a “bully” or a “victim.” “You’re talking about the behavior,” Ms. D. said, “not the person.” #BullyingAwarenessMonth #BullyingPreventionMonth #AntiBiasEducation #SocialEmotionalLearning #SchoolCulture #SchoolClimate #Inclusion

18

2 Comments

To kick off disability pride month I’ve started a blog focusing on disability justice, the intersection of race and disability, and anti-oppression! My first post focuses on the history and everlasting need for disability inclusion. Please let me know what you think and if there are any topics you’re eager to read about! https://lnkd.in/gQu_w4US

7

Domestic and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) is a critical issue that demands our attention. Recent events have sparked national conversations around the pervasiveness of abuse, particularly within Black communities. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an estimated 1.3 million American women experience DV/IPV each year, with women constituting 85% of the victims. Shockingly, most cases go unreported, with victims often being victimized by individuals they know. For Black women, the statistics are even more alarming. Black women are nearly three times more likely to experience fatal outcomes due to DV/IPV compared to White women. Despite representing only 8% of the population, Black women account for 22% of DV/IPV-related homicides and 29% of all victimized women. These numbers make DV/IPV one of the leading causes of death for Black women aged 15 to 35, highlighting a pressing need for nuanced discussions and increased support. The complexity of factors contributing to the disproportionate abuse faced by Black women cannot be understated. Racism and sexism present formidable challenges, with Black women often feeling compelled to prioritize racial issues over gender-based concerns. This sense of cultural affinity, coupled with mistrust in law enforcement and fear of community backlash, silences many Black women's stories and deters them from seeking help. It's crucial that we address these systemic issues and provide a safe space for victims to come forward without fear of judgment or retribution. Let's continue these conversations and work towards creating a society where all individuals, regardless of race or gender, can feel empowered to speak out against abuse and seek the support they deserve. #DVIPV #DomesticViolenceAwareness #SupportSurvivors

7

1 Comment

Black Girl Environmentalist is launching a fellowship program specifically for early career Black women and gender expansive persons in the United States! The Fellowship is designed to attract and support Black women and gender-expansive rising juniors, rising seniors, and recent college graduates with demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in the environmental and/or climate sectors. More detail at their site below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gz2sSchE #climate #climatejobs #environment #environmentaljobs #environmentaljustice #climatejustice

46

Thank you for sharing this article. https://lnkd.in/eZGMKU6U on the lived experience credibility discussion Andi Brierley, I appreciate the author’s exploration of their personal journey and critically reflect on the narratives surrounding the criminal justice system. However, I feel compelled to point out that this perspective exemplifies a significant problem with how justice is often conceptualized and implemented: the assumption that individuals who come into contact with the system must inherently bear the majority of responsibility for their circumstances. As someone who has personally experienced a miscarriage of justice, I find this viewpoint troubling because it dismisses or minimizes the possibility of systemic failings that do not merely "respond" to crime but actively create or exacerbate harm. The idea that people are not "randomly selected" by the system ignores cases like mine, where the system got it wrong and continues to—devastatingly so. It’s not just about those who are guilty of a crime experiencing “system contact” but also about innocent people being ensnared in processes that are meant to safeguard justice but instead fail. The author seems to argue against "victimhood narratives" by suggesting they undermine accountability, but I see a deeper issue: a lack of accountability within the justice system itself. Miscarriages of justice are stark reminders that the system can harm individuals in profound ways, not because it is a neutral arbiter of law and order but because it is fallible, influenced by bias, inefficiency, and sometimes outright neglect. These experiences are not about excusing crime or blaming the system arbitrarily; they are about highlighting real harm inflicted by structures that often refuse to acknowledge their own faults. Furthermore, the piece critiques a supposed "pendulum swing" in favour of those with lived experiences of system harm, but I believe that pendulum has not swung far enough. Voices like mine, who highlight these injustices, are still fighting to be heard and validated against a backdrop of skepticism that assumes guilt or minimizes systemic issues. Justice requires humility—a recognition that no system is perfect and that its power must be wielded with care and accountability. While I respect the author’s right to share their truth, it is equally important to make space for truths like mine, which reveal that the system’s failures can and do create victims, often unjustly. #criminology #psychology #fractalthinking

3

5 Comments

Who is the Black middle class? What is the proportion of Latinos in the middle class? How are White and Asian Americans represented. What cities have the highest representation? As frequently as the term “middle class” is used, its definition is not uniform, and even within the bounds of a single definition, its composition varies significantly based on geographic location and racial identity. In a new report, me and my colleagues, Hannah Linn Stephens and Farah Khan examine these differences so that voters can understand the diversity and complexity of the middle class outside of political rhetoric, as these differences have implications on what policies will equitably and effectively expand opportunity, wealth, and quality of life. #middleclass https://lnkd.in/ep5mHMUv

474

20 Comments

As we get ready to welcome our 2024-2025 cohort of CAC AmeriCorps members next week, I'm thinking a lot about what it means to serve in the US today vs the early 2000's when I found a path that connected me to something bigger than myself, and gave me the tools to positively contribute. 🛠 Having grown up in a US Army family, my first introduction to national service was through the Military. My dad found the Army in his early 20's and it provided him a career pathway and a way to make a difference in the world around him that made sense for him. Having been a part of his journey, I found myself wondering what to do after college and serving in AmeriCorps NCCC made sense to me. It had echoes of Military service and the Civilian Conservation Corps, in structure, but was oriented around community-based work in the US which suited me. 🤝 With service struggling as a unifying principle in recent years, convenings of organizations like Peace Corps, the Selective Service System, and AmeriCorps, around their collective interest in engaging the next generation of servant leaders, has been encouraging. 💡💡 But lets dream even bigger and build on these efforts to connect to servant leaders working in government and non-profit spaces, faith-based communities, and individuals working in businesses to deliver on both the bottom line and the communities they serve. All a part of the same collective spirit to leave things better than when we found them.. for our children, for our country, and for ourselves. To be the people we aspire to be. ❤️ 💙 💚 💛 🖤 #service #nationalservice #americorps #peacecorps #selectiveservice #usarmy #americorps30 #communityaction #servantleaders #manypaths #onepurpose

8

I’m so excited to announce a new initiative coming out of our work in Kentucky - the Kentucky Civic Trust. If you’ve ever spent time around me, you’ve likely heard about my frautrations about how the broader democracy field does and doesn’t fund place-based work. Without getting into the details, it’s challenging for institutional philanthropy to support organizations like CivicLex because of our scale. Regardless of whatever you think about that, it’s the way the field operates. So, place-based practitioners have to adapt. Luckily, Kentucky is full of smart and savvy practitioners like my two dear friends, colleagues, and partners in this idea Savannah Barrett and Carly Muetterties. Today, we’re releasing an RFP for a feasibility study to explore how the Kentucky Civic Trust could become one of the nation’s first state-wide philanthropic trusts dedicated to investing in non-partisan, pluralistic civic infrastructure - right here in Kentucky. This initiative is a collaboration between the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange, CivicLex, and the Kentucky Civic Education Coalition, and is currently being incubated at the Blue Grass Community Foundation. We’re hopeful that this initiative could be a new way of funding place-based civic health work, breaking down access barriers to startup funds, building connections and networks across all regions of the state, and helping align practitioners to common goals and impacts. I’m particularly excited for the potential of aligning folks across the ecosystem - civic educators, bridgers, news organizations, participation folks, and more. This feasibility study is the first step in shaping how the Trust can effectively address these challenges and build lasting impact. We’re SO grateful to Charlie Brown, Tito Llantada, Caitlin S. and everyone at the Trust for Civic Life for believing in our vision, trusting us, and for their support of this feasibility study. Also a big thank you to Lisa Adkins, J.D. for her support of our work. If you’re interested in learning more about RFP, let’s connect! Please send it to anyone that you think would be well equipped to helping us navigate this process! https://lnkd.in/en9YZv9u

246

27 Comments

Empowering Justice-Involved Communities Through Local Courts and Civic Participation As we approach when we become employers of our public servants through our votes, reflect on the power and responsibility that lies with us. While the actions (or inactions) of those in our states and nation’s capitals have disappointed, we must remember that our civic duty extends beyond frustration. Voting may not be an exact science, and yes, we remain perpetual students of democracy, but abstaining from participation carries real consequences. Take into account a growing and often overlooked demographic: those who identify as justice-involved or justice-impacted. These are individuals who have experienced incarceration or the criminal legal system in some capacity. As someone who served over 43 years of a life without-parole sentence, only to be granted freedom following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2017 decision, I know firsthand the long-lasting impact our legal system has on people’s lives. This identity—justice-involved—is now more commonly claimed than any other form of self-identification. These individuals aren't a small minority but rather represent a significant and growing portion of our population. It’s time we recognize that some of the most consequential decision-making for justice-involved populations happens not in the halls of Congress but in our local courts. The influence of these courts on lives like mine and countless others cannot be overstated. Whether it’s determining sentencing, managing probation, or influencing reentry processes, local courts wield the authority to profoundly alter the course of someone’s life. For those of us who have faced the carceral system head-on, this is a reality we live with every day. As you head to the polls this year, I urge you to reflect on the impact local courts have on justice-involved individuals in your community. Voting is not just about electing representatives; it’s about shaping a system where everyone, including the justice-impacted, can thrive. There are real, human lives tied to those decisions, and your voice is instrumental in driving meaningful reform.

27

24 Comments

WHERE DOES YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SIT ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD FLOURISHING CONTINUUM? I rate a place based on the strength of its institutions and connectivity - internal (bonding) and external (bridging). The stronger the institutions and the better they can bring people together to solve problems and reach out to access opportunity and support as needed, the more likely a place will thrive. (A future post will define this in more detail.) If its flourishing, residents have the wind at their backs. If its fragile, they are constrained in countless ways every day. Locales run the gamut from flourishing to fragile. The most flourishing go from strong to stronger despite little intentional effort to improve them, while the most fragile remain fragile no matter how much effort is invested in them. Then there are so-called middle neighborhoods—places that could go either way, where strategic initiatives could make an outsized difference. According to one estimation, almost half of the country’s urban population lives in a middle neighborhood. How would you rate the neighborhood where you live? Placemaking Education PlacemakingX #community #socialcapital #neighborhoods Dawn Martz Dan Baisden Dr. Adriane Johnson-Williams #health #poverty #place

115

7 Comments

Data are stories embedded in code. 📈 🗣️ As a storyteller, policy and culture change advocate around ending gun violence, designing community-led public safety models, healing and environment, I was ecstatic to sit and listen to the stories, experiences, and expertise of Khalilah M. Harris, EdD, JD during the Black Church PAC Fireside Chat, alongside Michael Blake and Pastor michael mcbride. Dr. Harris’s work is crucial, and we must support and amplify it. As the Executive Vice President of Program Strategy at the Center for Policing Equity, Dr. Harris and her team leverage data to address disparities in policing. Here are the facts: 1 in 5 Americans interacts with law enforcement each year, with Black individuals 2 to 4 times more likely to experience use of force than their White counterparts. They have so many reports and information to inform your work! The power of data science in their work can’t be understated. Let’s get behind this important work. Follow Center for Policing Equity and visit their site to learn more and support their mission.

3

The Need for Social Workers in Black and Brown Communities By Dr. Bryan K. Hickman, 2024. All Rights Reserved. Social work is a profession that aims to address inequalities and improve lives. Black and Brown communities, often facing challenges rooted in systemic racism and historical inequities, require social workers who understand their unique struggles and cultural contexts. Issues such as healthcare disparities, underfunded schools, and economic inequities highlight the critical role social workers play in creating meaningful change. Representation Matters Representation is essential in social work. Black and Brown social workers bring lived experiences and cultural awareness that foster trust and effective solutions. For example, addressing mental health stigma—common in these communities—requires nuanced approaches that respect cultural values and acknowledge historical mistrust of institutions. Beyond individual support, representation has a systemic impact. Black and Brown social workers can challenge biases within the profession, advocate for inclusive policies, and inspire future generations to enter the field. Their presence is critical for creating a social work framework that truly serves diverse populations. Key Challenges 1. Mental Health Barriers: Access to mental health care is limited by stigma, cost, and lack of culturally competent providers. Social workers can bridge this gap through advocacy and tailored services. 2. Economic Inequality: Black and Brown families often face poverty, which restricts access to education, housing, and healthcare. Social workers can connect these families to resources that improve financial stability and opportunities. 3. Education Gaps: Underfunded schools contribute to achievement gaps in Black and Brown communities. Social workers in schools can advocate for better resources and support students facing systemic barriers. 4. Criminal Justice Disparities: Over-policing and incarceration disproportionately impact Black and Brown individuals. Social workers can assist with reentry programs, restorative justice efforts, and advocacy for systemic reform. Solutions • Diversify Social Work: Encourage Black and Brown individuals to enter the profession through mentorship, scholarships, and outreach. • Cultural Competence Training: Equip social workers with the skills to address systemic racism and cultural dynamics effectively. • Policy Advocacy: Focus on reforms in healthcare, education, and criminal justice to tackle systemic barriers. Conclusion Social workers are crucial for addressing the challenges faced by Black and Brown communities. By increasing representation, promoting cultural competence, and advocating for systemic change, the profession can create a more equitable society. The need is urgent, and the time to act is now. Copyright © 2024 by Dr. Bryan K. Hickman. All Rights Reserved.

1