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National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice
In June 2020, CBCF created the National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice (NREI) in response to the historically unleveled playing field for minorities, and the national protests and police killings of unarmed African Americans. The NREI’s mission is to combat systemic injustice and advance racial equity, human rights, education, and economic development opportunities for the Black community. Housed in the Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR), the NREI takes an evidence-based approach to develop sound policies targeted to reducing racial disparities caused by racism and discrimination. NREI also strives to provide solutions-driven and proactive policies and practices that produce equitable access, opportunities, treatment, and outcomes for African Americans.
The NREI framework supports the CBCF’s organizational mission of developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public with four goals:
To place Social Justice Policy Fellows in the U.S. Congress and the Center for Policy Analysis and Research for 12 months.
To award social justice scholarships to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
To create an NREI Task Force of Social Justice Ambassadors.
To serve as a centralized data and research hub on social justice issues that advance racial equity and human rights and dismantle systemic racial barriers through research, data, analysis, and public policy reform for maximum impact in Black communities. In September 2020, the NREI welcomed three inagural John Lewis Social Justice Fellows:
Sianay Chase Clifford, Fellowship Class of 2020, Office of Rep. Ayanna Pressley: A macro social worker from Burlington, Vermont whose work focuses on how racism is embedded into the policies of public and private institutions, and how those institutions can transition from causing harm to reducing harm and eradicating the causes of harm, specifically racism and anti-Blackness. She previously worked as a financial counselor in Roxbury, Massachusetts where she researched how low-income individuals and families interact with state and federal income support services, and how perverse incentives in the welfare system affect Black residents’ physical, mental and financial health.
Jared Lewis, Fellowship Class of 2020, Office of Rep. Barbara Lee: A Chicago native, who works at the intersection of economic development, small business, public policy, and social enterprise. He was formerly a Global Program Manager for Airbnb Policy Communications, and currently serves on the board for the Social Enterprise Alliance, the largest organization in the United States supporting social enterprise organizations.
Dennis Johnson, Fellowship Class of 2020, Office of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman: A Chicago native and a career pathway specialist who focuses on community and student development. He is one of the founders of the Black Youth Project and a member of The Peace Exchange: Chicago-Asia. His work centers around student development issues regarding systemic and structural oppression toward minority youth and education policy.
