Over the past several weeks, I have watched with increasing sadness, anger, frustration, anxiety and hope. I want hope to be what comes out of this work I am so committed to – interpersonally, professionally, emotionally and intellectually.I, like many of my White friends, have sent texts and emails, have posted antiracist information on social media and have spoken with friends, family and coworkers who are people of color. I want to do more than support and send love. Thanks to support from local and national groups, the organization where I work has helped coordinate food delivery, PPE for coworkers and the community and listened and loved as dear friends lost more Black lives to gun violence. Mostly, I have listened, and loved and put my money and my actions where my mouth and social media go. I encourage family and friends to do the same. Even as I recognize how often I have stayed silent. I refuse to stay silent anymore. I ask my Black and LatinX friends not how to be a better ally – that is my job to learn and other White people’s jobs to teach– rather I ask how they are feeling, and I genuinely listen. I know I certainly have more to learn. As I listen to How to be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and read Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, I recognize mistakes I have made and vow to do better and be better.
I constantly question if I am doing all I can. I am so grateful for the love and trust of my Black and LatinX friends as we all try to navigate this world. I will forever be grateful for the ways I have been allowed into people’s lives and families. I and my family have certainly been enriched by their love and friendship. I know I do not have it figured out. I am grateful for the grace I have been given by people who have been so devastated by racism and all its corollaries. Being an antiracist is something I will strive harder to be every day. I will also explain what this means to my White family and friends. It is way past time to create a new reality. I have hope for this new reality where antiracism is our new reality.
Tara moved to Chicago from Kentucky 20 years ago when she joined AmeriCorps and has committed herself to advocating for and supporting victims of violence her entire professional career. Tara has moved between direct service work and fundraising during this time, always maintaining strong ties to the direct service work. Tara grew up in a funeral home and still helps at her family’s business when she visits. From this lifelong exposure to loss, she believes we must interrupt the cycles of violence and grief, so we can heal as a larger society.
Collaborative relationships with others or ideas that build on one another.
How does an organization, individual, idea connect and drive collaborative action with others?
Adaptability to changing conditions and new knowledge.
How does an organization, individual, idea demonstrate an openness to learning and propensity for adjusting to new environments, and/or new information and change?
Rootedness in youth and community experience, voice, and relationship.
How is an organization, individual, idea influenced and shaped by youth and community voice, experience, and relationship? How is youth voice integrated in the work?
Audacious vision for change that is backed by action.
How does an organization, individual, idea push themselves and others to have greater impact?
Capacity to engage in a high-touch relationship built on mutual trust.
How does an organization, individual, idea demonstrate its ability to work closely together?
Relevancy to the opportunities, needs, culture and values of youth and communities.
How does an organization, individual, idea recognize and understand the complexity of its issue area and community?
Chicago Beyond actively seeks out opportunities to offer a platform to highlight the WORK of our investment partners and other organizations that furthers our vision of challenging narratives reframing conversations on race and equity
Through our partnership, Chicago Beyond is able to share in the ideation, design, and launch of new products and initiatives.
Chicago Beyond provides organizations with thought partnership and capacity building in service of refining their programmatic and organizational structures.
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We support our partners in finding connections to institutions, systems, organizations, and individuals with power that can accelerate equitable transformation. These connections are key to sustaining shifts in perspective, identifying system gaps and creating collective ownership.
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We offer partners support without judgement. We walk side by side on paths carved in purpose, driven by our partner’s unique needs, and rooted in their success.
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