Mid-West Region Home Ownership Leaders’ Summit Past, Present & Future Reflections from our Host & Weaver – Maurissa Stone There is much to be said about how the social injustices of our past, as pointed out by Richard Rothstein, continue to stain our societal attitudes, values, and beliefs about BIPOC, those representing the LGBTQIA community, and others with intersections such as those with unique access and functional needs. We are aware of the intended outcomes of movements and legislation such as Civil Rights, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Housing, etc. that aim to create equitable institutions and systems. Unfortunately, we continue to fall short in creating measurable and impactful changes within our institutional, systemic, and organizational policies, practices and systems. We are living through a pivotal time in history that requires us to recognize and embrace the promise of an inclusive America. It also requires us to illuminate the wrongdoing of our federal and state governments, as well as industries, that pivoted from enslavement and disenfranchisement and gave birth to the new Jim Crow Era in which structural and systemic racism continues to remain in the forefront. A commitment to an inclusive society also means a commitment to an inclusive economy. Service delivery entities have a long history of creating racial hierarchies and white saviorism in communities of color. Race Literacy is a critical tool in beginning the tough conversations around race and how racism is leveraged within organizations and the housing industry. We must first begin the process of acknowledging the hierarchy of human value that was created and maintained by the myth of white supremacy and dismantle these values that are informed by such socialization. These valuations of people based upon their race, class, gender, sexuality, culture, nation and other identifying markers are maintained in our society’s operational norms. Racial healing and transformation can only occur when we develop a framework to analyze systems of oppression within our industry and organization’s operational norms. Conducting an organizational culture assessment can be used as a tool to determine if your organization’s outward facing value of equity and inclusion is in alignment with the actual operating norms of your organization and or industry.
Mid-West Region Home Ownership Leaders’ Summit: Past, Present & Future
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