our work
Middlesex United Way vows to continue our fight in making sure individuals and families can thrive in an anti-racist, equitable, and inclusive community.
We believe that to achieve racial equity, we must unite and take meaningful action. Together we must reach a deeper understanding of how race and systemic racism impacts society, the devastating and far-reaching implications that have resulted, and actionable steps to build a more equitable and inclusive community.
At Middlesex United Way, we want to be part of the solution and have begun taking steps to achieve our vision.
- Established a Racial Equity and Inclusion vision statement to guide our work
- Curated a resources page on our website to better equip individuals on topics related to race and equity
- Collaborating with local consulting firm to assess where we are as an organization, create a strategic framework, and establish a three-year plan going forward
- Conducted an initial equity and inclusion assessment of our 38 existing partners
- Expanding our community partnerships and investing in leaders and organizations focused on equity and inclusion
- Lifted up black voices through our weekly news column
- Launched a “Equity to Education” Day of Action challenge asking community members to not only further their understanding of systemic racism and inequity, but actively take action against it
- Directed COVID-19 financial relief to communities of color due to the disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on people of color
resources
Books:
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: books for children and young adults
31 Children's books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance
Podcasts:
Parenting Forward podcast episode ‘Five Pandemic Parenting Lessons with Cindy Wang Brandt’
Fare of the Free Child podcast
Integrated Schools podcast episode “Raising White Kids with Jennifer Harvey”
Articles:
PBS’s Teaching Your Child About Black History Month
Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk About Race: Resource Roundup from Pretty Good
The Conscious Kid: follow them on Instagram and consider signing up for their Patreon
“America’s Racial Contract Is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer | Atlantic (May 8, 2020)
Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement (Mentoring a New Generation of Activists
”My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant” by Jose Antonio Vargas | NYT Mag (June 22, 2011)
The 1619 Project (all the articles) | The New York Times Magazine
The Combahee River Collective Statement
“The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston | Vox (May 28, 2019)
Tips for Creating Effective White Caucus Groups developed by Craig Elliott PhD
“Where do I donate? Why is the uprising violent? Should I go protest?” by Courtney Martin (June 1, 2020)
”White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” by Knapsack Peggy McIntosh
“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)
"How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion" | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
Selected Titles About Racial Justice and White Privilege
June 2020
Russell Library
For Adults:
Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates
How We Fight For Our Lives, by Saeed Jones
Just Mercy: a Story of Justice and Redemption, by Bryan Stephenson
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor, by Layla F. Saad
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, by Michelle Alexander
So You Want to Talk About Race?, by Ijeoma Oluo
Stamped From the Beginning, by Ibram X. Kendi
Waking Up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race, by Debby Irving
"Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together In the Cafeteria?": and Other Conversations About Race, by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Teens:
Black Brother, Black Brother, by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America, edited by Ibi Zoboi
From the Desk of Zoe Washington, by Janae Marks
The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas
Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Middle Grades:
Clean Getaway, by Nic Stone
Tell Me Who You Are: Sharing Our Stories of Race, Culture and Identity, by Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo
This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action and Do the Work, by Tiffany Jewell
Upper Elementary:
Resist: 35 Profiles of Ordinary People Who Rose Up Against Tyranny and Injustice, by Veronica Chambers
The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist, by Cynthia Levinson
For Ages 4-6:
Don't Touch My Hair!, by Sharee Miller
Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness, by Anastasia Higginbotham
The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson
For Toddlers:
AntiRacist Baby, by Ibram X. Kendi
13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
Blindspotting (Carlos López Estrada) — Hulu with Cinemax or available to rent
Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent for free in June in the U.S.
King In The Wilderness — HBO
See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax
When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
Take Action (& other resources)
75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
Jenna Arnold’s resources (books and people to follow)
Rachel Ricketts’ anti-racism resources
Resources for White People to Learn and Talk About Race and Racism
Save the Tears: White Woman’s Guide by Tatiana Mac
Showing Up For Racial Justice’s educational toolkits
The [White] Shift on Instagram
“Why is this happening?” — an introduction to police brutality from 100 Year Hoodie
We challenge you to further your understanding of systemic inequality as well as take action to promote equity and inclusion by participating in our Day of Action: Education to Equity challenge. We challenge you to grow alongside us in discovering new ways to do the heart work racial justice will require. Download the challenge here: https://bit.ly/3xRns7M
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