Article

We must rededicate ourselves to dismantling systemic racism and white supremacy in our community

Community Solutions Team
Transforming data into progress
Additional Contributors
No items found.
June 5, 2020
Read time:
Download Fact Sheets
Register now
Share this resource
Subscribe to our Newsletter
By subscribing you agree to with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download this as a PDF

The Center for Community Solutions joins the Greater Cleveland community and the world in mourning the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and too many others at the hands of law enforcement. It is an all too familiar and cruel ritual – one that’s well known to those of us in Greater Cleveland. For it was just six years ago that 12-year-old Tamir Rice was shot and killed by officers of the Cleveland Division of Police. What is clear is that our law enforcement officers - who are tasked with serving and protecting us all - are in many cases failing to protect - and sometimes actively harming - our Black and brown neighbors. Black and brown lives should matter to all of us.

 Black and brown lives should matter to all of us.

Racism is woven so tightly into the fabric of our community that it can be nearly invisible, but its harmful presence is felt and experienced daily by our Black and brown colleagues, friends and family. It’s often experienced daily through indignities, insults and micro-aggressions; other times it’s more blatant racist words and actions. All are harmful and can be physically and emotionally challenging for those who experience them. In addition to these displays of interpersonal racism, we have seen that our systems, institutions and public policies often - intentionally or unintentionally - perpetuate racism and create outcomes that disproportionately impact Black and brown lives in a negative way. Community Solutions sees the consequences of historical and present-day racism in every issue that we work on and write about.

 Community Solutions sees the consequences of historical and present-day racism in every issue that we work on and write about.

The mission of Community Solutions is to improve health, social and economic conditions through nonpartisan research, policy analysis, communications and advocacy. None of these conditions will improve if we don’t make fighting racism and supporting racial equity a key part of our work. We are a 107-year-old organization, and our track record on race and racism isn’t perfect. It wasn’t until 1972 that the organization selected an African-American board chair and it wasn’t until 2004 that an African-American was selected to lead the organization.

 But over our history, hundreds of volunteers and staff have led important efforts to combat racism and intolerance.

But over our history, hundreds of volunteers and staff have led important efforts to combat racism and intolerance. Community Solutions created a biracial committee in 1917 to deal with issues that arose from the wartime migration of African-Americans to Cleveland from the South. In 1946 we adopted Principles for Interracial and Intercultural Relations, and in the 1960s we worked to help health and human service agencies improve their employment policies, client outreach and board representation. After World War II we helped resettle Japanese Americans in Cleveland who had been imprisoned in internment camps during the war. We’ve also helped to support and create the Urban League of Cleveland, and the City of Cleveland’s Community Relations Board. In the 1970s we wrote and distributed a handbook that was used nationally to help community groups plan desegregation activities. That we’ve been working on these issues almost as long as we have been in existence reveals how deeply embedded racism is in our country.

 That we’ve been working on these issues almost as long as we have been in existence reveals how deeply embedded racism is in our country.

But that’s why we must rededicate ourselves to challenging and dismantling systemic racism and white supremacy in our community and country. Community Solutions’ staff and board have engaged in activities over the past two years to increase our understanding and awareness of the effects of systemic racism in our community and to identify and advocate for policies that address those effects. We started to regularly write and speak more explicitly about the negative and positive implications of existing and proposed health and human service policies on people of color. Last December, the Community Solutions board approved a strategic plan that said we would “embolden Community Solutions’ commitment to racial equity in all aspects of the organization, internal and external.” We said we would develop a “broad organizational plan for advancing racial equity.” Now we have to put our words into action, and we should be held accountable for the results of those actions.

 I’m inspired by my youn­ger colleagues at Community Solutions who are determined to lead us towards a different path.

Last week I told my colleagues that the events of the last few days had left me feeling hopeless; but I said that if I felt that way, I couldn’t imagine how my Black and brown colleagues, friends and family felt. But what has inspired me are the acts of courage and kindness I see being played out on the streets of Greater Cleveland and across the country. Taking action and working for change is a core value of Community Solutions; that’s why we support the right of all people to exercise their constitutional rights to protest and seek redress. I’m inspired by my youn­ger colleagues at Community Solutions who are determined to lead us towards a different path. This gives me hope that the unjust killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice - and so many others - will open our eyes to that better path forward. I hope you will join us in this work and in this journey and welcome your comments as we move forward.  

Download Fact Sheets

Ohio Statewide Data

Download

Wood County

Download

Wyandot County

Download

Williams County

Download

Washington County

Download

Vinton County

Download

Wayne County

Download

Warren County

Download

Van Wert County

Download

Union County

Download

Tuscarawas County

Download

Stark County

Download

Summit County

Download

Trumbull County

Download

Shelby County

Download

Seneca County

Download

Scioto County

Download

Ross County

Download

Sandusky County

Download

Richland County

Download

Putnam County

Download

Huron County

Download

Portage County

Download

Preble County

Download

Pike County

Download

Pickaway County

Download

Perry County

Download

Noble County

Download

Paulding County

Download

Ottawa County

Download

Morrow County

Download

Muskingum County

Download

Morgan County

Download

Montgomery County

Download

Meigs County

Download

Monroe County

Download

Miami County

Download

Mercer County

Download

Marion County

Download

Madison County

Download

Medina County

Download

Mahoning County

Download

Lucas County

Download

Lorain County

Download

Logan County

Download

Licking County

Download

Lawrence County

Download

Lake County

Download

Holmes County

Download

Jackson County

Download

Knox County

Download

Jefferson County

Download

Hocking County

Download

Henry County

Download

Highland County

Download

Harrison County

Download

Hancock County

Download

Hardin County

Download

Greene County

Download

Geauga County

Download

Guernsey County

Download

Hamilton County

Download

Gallia County

Download

Fayette County

Download

Fulton County

Download

Franklin County

Download

Fairfield County

Download

Erie County

Download

Darke County

Download

Defiance County

Download

Coshocton County

Download

Delaware County

Download

Cuyahoga County

Download

Crawford County

Download

Columbiana County

Download

Clinton County

Download

Clermont County

Download

Clark County

Download

Champaign County

Download

Carroll County

Download

Athens County

Download

Ashtabula County

Download

Brown County

Download

Butler County

Download

Belmont County

Download

Auglaize County

Download

Ashland County

Download

Allen County

Download

Adams County

Download

Lake County

Download

Geauga County

Download

Cuyahoga County

Download

All Municipalities Geauga County

Download

All Municipalities Lake County

Download

All Municipalities Cuyahoga County

Download

Thompson

Download

South Russell

Download

Russell

Download

Parkman

Download
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Download report

Subscribe to our newsletter

5 Things you need to know arrives on Mondays with the latest articles, events, and advocacy developments in Ohio

Explore the fact sheets

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique.

No Related Fact Sheets

Explore Topics

Browse articles, research, and testimony.

Poverty & Safety Net
Article

A look at the Ohio House-passed version of the state budget

Community Solutions Team
April 28, 2025
Medicaid
Article

What’s at stake in Ohio? Reimagining the new Medicaid

Brandy Davis
April 28, 2025
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Eighteen health and human service levies in May election

Kyle Thompson
April 28, 2025
Maternal & Infant Health
Article

Infant and early childhood mental health: Bridging gaps and ensuring early intervention

Tamikka James-Haygood
April 28, 2025
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

Connecting with legislators at Policy Advocacy Days

Kyle Thompson
April 21, 2025
Poverty & Safety Net
Article

AIDS Funding Collaborative community briefing at The Centers on April 29th

Julie Patterson
April 21, 2025