Tools
The 1619 Project
Pulitzer CenterIn partnership with The New York Times, the Pulitzer Center is building a learning community around The 1619 Project. Explore this site to find teaching resources, information about our 1619 Education Network, and ways to connect.
Rethinking "Thanksgiving" Toolkit
Indigenous Environmental Network,There are many different experiences we will have over Thanksgiving - some of us will have lots of food, some of us will struggle to have enough. Some will be surrounded by people and some will be alone or with just one other person. For many, it’s an important time of coming together with family. This day also gives us a chance to look at and change stories we have about our families and ourselves. Thanksgiving is based on myths that hide and erase the genocide that the United States is founded upon. What would it mean to tell a different story; an honest story?
Counter-Narrating the Attacks on Critical Race Theory
Race ForwardGuide for addressing critiques on Critical Race Theory
Resource Guide for Indigenous Solidarity Funding Projects
Catalyst ProjectThis guide offers lessons and guidelines to support non Native groups and people who seek to move resources to Indigenous Peoples through solidarity funding projects that directly support Indigenous sovereignty.
Slides for Local Housing Authority Budget with DHCD Webinar 12.2.21
DHCDPowerpoint slides that correspond with webinar here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1k__0tlpeM5NtmMGnYW9kTBYKkLtMH4ARpniG7BlLPEs/edit?usp=sharing
Local Housing Authority Budget with DHCD Webinar 12.2.21
Chris DeVore, DHCDJoin the Mel King Institute and DHCD for a session about Housing Authority Budgets. Housing Authority Budgets spell out how the Authority plans to spend the money it collects from rents, subsidies, and other sources. All residents have a role in helping shape budgets, especially when there is a Local Tenant Organization, and Resident Board Members need to understand them in order to weigh in and sign off on them each year. This webinar is for residents and Board Members of Local Housing Authorities.
Impact of Climate Change on Health
National Institute for Health Care Management FoundationClimate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity and it is disproportionately felt by the most vulnerable and disadvantaged according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) special report. This infographic explains links between climate change and health.
Getting Capital to Small Businesses in Low-Income Communities
The Aspen InstituteHeeding the call for greater race and gender equity, policymakers, donors, and investors want to uplift small businesses in underserved communities. But boosting access to capital for business owners of color is easier said than done. In this video, we identify the importance of microloans in meeting firms owned by people of color where they are in terms of their capital needs. And we highlight the work of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in serving this vital role. Members of the Aspen Institute’s Microfinance Impact Collaborative, for example, issued over 8,300 loans in 2018, 75% of which were to entrepreneurs of color.
Public Housing Resident Organizing and Participation Toolkit
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)This toolkit is designed for public housing residents interested in creating or supporting a resident council.
Mass Cultural Council's Racial Equity Plan
Mass Cultural CouncilAs a state agency, Mass Cultural Council’s grant-making is a public investment into an important economic sector and health and human services. As stewards of public resources, we are striving to become more intentionally inclusive when we design programs and services, and make policy and funding decisions, to ensure we are reaching all residents of the Commonwealth. With the release of our first-ever Racial Equity Plan, Mass Cultural Council commits to doing the ongoing and long-term work of being a racially-equitable and anti-racist organization.
Local Tenant Organization Success Stories Webinar, August 2021
Sue Kirby, Public Housing ResidentFor residents of public housing What makes for a successful Local Tenant Organization? In this webinar we talk about how to connect with residents in your development to build a powerful network that can make changes to benefit everyone. Residents are often held back by “The Big 4” -- fear, hopelessness, confusion and division. But through building trusted relationships we can overcome these barriers and improve the quality of life. What follows is an interview with Sue Kirby, the president of the Morency Tenants Organization in Salem, MA.
Organizing and Engagement Core Skills Toolkit
Mel King Institute, Rising Sun ConsultingThis toolkit was designed to support the professional growth of community organizers and community engagement staff. The toolkit was developed by and for organizers! Front line organizers helped identify the 6 competency areas and piloted the tools, offering feedback on content and format.
Who's Who - DHCD, the LHA Board, and the Local Tenant Organization 2.12.21
Sarah O'LearyThis webinar with DHCD and the Mel King Institute is to understand the different powers of the Local Tenant Organization, the LHA Board, and DHCD. Residents will learn more about the "chain of command" for resolving individual problems, the expansive powers of their local Board, and the limits of DHCD's authority.
Slides for Capital Improvement Plans Webinar with DHCD 10.14.2021
DHCDPowerpoint slides that correspond with webinar here: https://youtu.be/k3wXaRrkhxI
Capital Improvement Plans with DHCD Webinar 10.14.2021
Stefanie BrynenEvery Housing Authority has a Capital Improvement Plan which lays out the major improvements the authority will make to its properties in the next five years. These plans have a huge impact on residents’ quality of life, and like budgets, all residents have the right to weigh in. Resident Board Members especially need to understand the details of a Capital Improvement Plan so they can make their perspectives known to the Board.
Race Counts
Build Healthy Places NetworkRACE COUNTS measures the overall performance, amount of racial disparity, and impact by population size of every county in California.
Local Tenant Organization Success Stories Webinar, August 2021
Judy O’Kulsky, Public Housing ResidentFor residents of public housing What makes for a successful Local Tenant Organization? In this webinar we talk about how to connect with residents in your development to build a powerful network that can make changes to benefit everyone. Residents are often held back by “The Big 4” -- fear, hopelessness, confusion and division. But through building trusted relationships we can overcome these barriers and improve the quality of life. What follows is an interview with Judy O'Kulsky who is on the board of the newly elected local tenant organization in Belchertown, MA and also serves on the board of the Belchertown Housing Authority.
Local Tenant Organization Success Stories Webinar, August 2021
Carol Roberts, Public Housing ResidentFor residents of public housing What makes for a successful Local Tenant Organization? In this webinar we talk about how to connect with residents in your development to build a powerful network that can make changes to benefit everyone. Residents are often held back by “The Big 4” -- fear, hopelessness, confusion, and division. But through building trusted relationships we can overcome these barriers and improve the quality of life. What follows is an interview with Carol Roberts, a long time board member of the local tenants organization in Caffrey Towers in Brockton, MA and also serves as a board member of the Brockton Housing Authority.
Creativity and Community Action
David M. Greenberg, LISCIn a new essay and workbook from David M. Greenberg, LISC's vice president for Knowledge Management and Strategy, practitioners are posed with two parallel questions: how can community development and activism enhance artistic and cultural work? And how can cultural practice community development and activism? Using paintings, poetry, and the work of artist-activists in Logan Square, Chicago, as “cases,” the resource helps enhance the reach, ambition, and impact of collaborations between artists and community organizations.
Climate Resilient Land Use Strategies
Metropolitan Area Planning CouncilLand use regulations can be a powerful tool to provide climate resilience. From floodplain and wetlands restrictions, to tree protection and water conservation, to design standards and zoning, communities are using their regulatory authority to address the growing impacts of rainstorms, sea level rise, heat, and drought.
YW Boston’s 2021 Small Biz Map
YW BostonSupport businesses run by women and people of color in Greater Boston
Existing Buildings and Climate Change Resources
Boston Society for ArchitectureWe cannot meet our future goals without utilizing our greatest built and cultural assets: existing buildings. Below are some resources to support the industry as we forge ahead.
COVID-19 Reopening Guide for Small Businesses
Chamber of CommerceThis guide will cover all that business owners need to know about reopening and navigating current government requirements.
Mass Law Reform Institute Annual Plan Webinar, Recorded June 2021
Molly Broderick. MLRIEvery Local Housing Authority (LHA) is required to prepare and post an Annual Plan. This Plan includes the LHA's budget, capital improvement plan, maintenance information, a list of policies, a list of waivers, and more. Residents have the right to weigh in, especially Local Tenant Organizations!
DHCD Annual Plan Webinar, Recorded June 2021
Paul McPartland, DHCDEvery Local Housing Authority (LHA) is required to prepare and post an Annual Plan. This Plan includes the LHA's budget, capital improvement plan, maintenance information, a list of policies, a list of waivers, and more. Residents have the right to weigh in, especially Local Tenant Organizations!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Organizational Assessment Tools: A Resource Guide
Brandeis Heller SchoolThis resource guide is designed to assist organizations and coalitions in a change process to identify, defne, and achieve goals related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice. It is appropriate for a wide range of organizations from across the health and healthcare, human and social service, education (K-12), and non-proft sectors.
20 subtle ways white supremacy manifests in nonprofit and philanthropy
VuListicle with 20 examples of white supremacy in nonprofit work
Racial Equity Tools Site Map
Racial Equity Tools• For a bird’s-eye view of the 98 ‘bookcases’ (category pages) in our refreshed library, skim the RET Site Map.
Racial Equity Tools Glossary
Racial Equity ToolsWords and their multiple uses reflect the tremendous diversity that characterizes our society. Indeed, universally agreed upon language on issues relating to racism is nonexistent. We discovered that even the most frequently used words in any discussion on race can easily cause confusion, which leads to controversy and hostility. It is essential to achieve some degree of shared understanding, particularly when using the most common terms. In this way, the quality of dialogue and discourse on race can be enhanced.
Mixed-Finance Redevelopment of State-Aided Public Housing Webinar, Recorded December 2020
Robert Muollo, DHCDRedeveloping state public housing is a complex, multi-faceted and inclusionary process involving many stakeholders that takes vision and coordination to achieve the best outcome. By improving one’s understanding of the redevelopment process, residents can become better empowered to participate, distinguish fact from myth, and drive community priorities.
Local Housing Authority Capital Improvement Plans, Recorded May 2020
Fatima Razzaq, DHCDEvery Housing Authority has a Capital Improvement Plan which lays out the major improvements the authority will make to its properties in the next five years. These plans have a huge impact on residents’ quality of life and all residents have the right to weigh in. Resident Board Members especially need to understand the details of a Capital Improvement Plan so they can make their perspectives known to the Board.
Public Housing Rent Policies during COVID-19, Recorded May 2020
Judith Liben, Mass Law Reform Institute (MLRI)Watch Judith Liben of Mass Law Reform Institute review Public Housing Rents during the COVID-19 Emergency.
Local Housing Authority Annual Plans, Recorded May 2020
Annette Duke, Mass Law Reform Institute (MLRI)Every Local Housing Authority (LHA) is required to prepare and post an Annual Plan. This Plan includes the LHA's budget, capital improvement plan, maintenance information, a list of policies, a list of waivers, and more. Residents have the right to weigh in, especially Local Tenant Organizations! Watch this video to learn more.
Racial Equity Trauma Toolkit
Boston CollegeIn this era of having witnessed multiple police killings of African American boys and men and girls and women either directly or vicariously through media accounts, communities of Color may experience post trauma symptoms. The ISPRC Alumni Board has released a toolkit for managing symptoms at #racialtraumaisreal which is available to download.
Asian American History Video Series
Immigrant History InitiativeView our videos below on Chinese Exclusion, the Justice for Vincent Chin Movement,the history of Filipinx healthcare workers, Wong Kim Ark & birthright citizenship, the Civil Rights Movement and the need for cross-racial solidarity, and APA Heritage Month!
A Different Asian American Timeline
This tool invites us to see both the specificity of group-differentiated oppressions and their relationships to one another within racial capitalism. The importance of studying Asian American history in this way lies in the urgent need to work toward democracy amid rising forms of authoritarianism and nationalism.
APISAA Therapist Directory
State-specific Asian, Pacific Islander, and South Asian American Therapist Directory
More than Numbers: A Guide Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Data Collection
Schusterman Family FoundationThis guide includes recommendations for equity-focused demographic questions on program applications, surveys, evaluations, event invitations and the like, as well as best practices and examples of how to ensure that historically marginalized communities are appropriately represented.
State Support for Local School Construction: Leveraging Equity and Diversity
Lauren Mittman, Nikhil De, and Philip TegelerHistorically, state support for suburban school construction facilitated white flight and metropolitan segregation. The least we can do today is think more carefully about the impacts of future school construction funding. PRRAC has prepared a policy brief on this question, based on a state-by-state survey of current practices.
Best Practices for RAD "Choice-Mobility" Implementation
Poverty & Race Research Action CouncilThe Rental Assistance Demonstration has become the most significant public housing redevelopment program in the U.S., bringing new funds to support aging properties around the country. One essential element of the program is that, after conversion, all tenants have a right to request a portable Housing Choice Voucher, and move to a community of their choice (thus opening up their apartment to another eligible family on the waiting list). Few housing authorities have worked out plans for implementation of this Choice-Mobility feature of the program, so we have developed a guidance document for PHAs and advocates, based on extensive policy research and interviews.