Racial Equity

The Kalamazoo Community Foundation believes structural racism perpetuates the inequalities that threaten the well being of our community, and we are especially concerned about how it affects youths of color. Therefore, in October 2010 we set out to address the devastating impact of racial inequities on the Kalamazoo community and improve life outcomes for youths of color by establishing the Racial Equity Initiative.

Funded through the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's America Healing initiative, the goals of the Racial Equity initiative are to:

• Educate youths, nonprofits that serve youths and Community Foundation staff about systems that discriminate against people of color;
• Provide support for activities that present opportunities for young people of color;
• Implement projects and policies that work to eliminate institutional racism and racial inequality in our community.