We are excited to host the latest installment of our racial equity programming for our members
who want to deepen their racial equity journey.

At HAND, we are committed to centering racial equity, and the LEAD Racial Equity Institute is one of the ways we are taking action. We are constantly inspired by our members remaining intentional in this commitment alongside us, and we have heard their call for a program that goes a step beyond traditional diversity, equity, and inclusion training. This program will equip housing leaders to actively drive racial equity, transforming their organizational culture, policies, and practices to make a lasting impact, both internally and externally. 

Learn, Empower, Activate, and Deliver – these four words capture the heart of the institute and represent each letter of LEAD, depicting the type of leader that will develop through this program. This program requires the decision-makers who can directly impact change to be at the table, where they will design and learn how to implement a Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) plan unique to their organization and its goals.

It’s time to move from understanding to action.

Explore The Program 

This 10-month cohort program is designed to foster a collaborative style of learning to address a wide range of competencies, skills, and practices. Each session is carefully crafted to be inclusive and relevant to the unique challenges faced at the cross-sector of racial equity and affordable housing and community development. Throughout the course of this program, each session will provide opportunities for relationship building, peer discussion, and learning from experts and practitioners on valuable topics such as:

The History of Racism in Housing

• • Create a safe space to process learnings from pre-work, in-person and virtual meetings, and coaching sessions to identify how what they learn relates to their life and work.
  • Understand the broad definitions & impacts of Racial Equity, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, White Supremacy, Intersectionality and how racism manifests in housing.

Foundations for Advancing Racial Equity

• • Participants will explore their own implicit biases, understand the ways in which inequities show up within organizations, and learn how operationalizing REDI can disrupt them, as well as explore strategies specifically as it relates to their leadership and organizational culture.

Operationalizing Racial Equity

• • Discuss the leadership commitment required for racial equity. Participants will explore elements of an equitable organizational culture and decision-making processes.

Developing Plans & Using Impact Assessment Tools

• • Understand the process of developing racial equity strategies, be able to articulate where they are in the process, and work towards completion of a plan or launch a new initiative.
  • Participants will be able to identify strategic points of applicability within their organization and practice using the tool on an upcoming decision or program.

Equitable Community Engagement

• • Understand the importance of community involvement in advancing housing equity.
  • Explore effective communication and engagement strategies including culturally competent outreach.

Real Estate Development & Vendor Diversity

• • Understand the importance of specific goals and practices that lead to equitable development.
  • Explore how internal practices, such as increasing vendor diversity and spending, can advance racial equity.

How to Measure Success REDI – Metrics, Dashboard and Accountability

• • Guidance and best practices in plan implementation, accountability and sustainability.
  • Gain an understanding of setting measurable goals as well as monitoring and evaluating success.

Sustaining Your Racial Equity Work

• • Build connections for ongoing support and collaboration within the cohort to monitor and evaluate the success of plan implementation.
  • Learn best practices for implementation, measuring success, and how to overcome challenges.

Each participating organization will form a team of 2 to 4 leaders, who will conduct a racial equity assessment, craft a comprehensive racial equity plan or initiative, and address challenge areas to drive progress. Teams will also receive five one-hour coaching sessions to support participants in developing their action plans or addressing challenges that may arise. Organizational leaders, individuals with REDI responsibilities, or teams can benefit from individual or group coaching or a combination of both. Details regarding the time commitment, program schedule, and cost are outlined below.