Principles And Values For A Racially Equitable And Just Providence

1) A Racially Equitable & Just Providence moves us toward el Buen Vivir*

Buen Vivir* means that we can live well without living better at the expense of others. Frontline communities of color* have a fundamental human right to clean, healthy and adequate air, water, land, food, education, transportation, safety, and housing. We must have just relationships with each other and with the natural world, of which we are a part. Buen vivir* for Providence includes: Ensuring that frontline communities of color* enjoy their fundamental right to quality of life* and live free from discrimination and oppression; Prioritizing the well­being of our children, youth and elders; Centers conversations about the future of Providence on the communities most affected by inequities.

2) A Racially Equitable and Just Providence Supports Safe Spaces for Frontline Communities of Color*

For Providence this means politically and financially supporting physical and psychological safe spaces built by and for frontline communities of color* where we can heal and lead. Safe spaces include: 

• Homes, schools, public institutions, community centers, non­profits and our streets; 

• Places that provide mental health and other resources for and by frontline communities of color*

• Supporting existing organizations that provide safe spaces for and by people of color

• Supporting people of color's* need to care for ourselves, our families, and our communities without taking away the resources of future generations 

• Acknowledging gentrification and committing to stopping the displacement of people of color, especially by developers and universities; 

• An end to police brutality and murder of people of color, specifically focusing on Black people

• An end to mass incarceration of frontline communities of color*, especially focusing on Black communities

• An end to surveillance of frontline communities of color that creates a culture of fear and repression

• Reducing the barriers to reentry for formerly incarcerated people 

3) A Racially Equitable and Just Providence knows people are sacred and respects their cultures and traditions

For Providence this means the City: 

• Acknowledges and respects that there is more than just the dominant culture* in Providence

• Values and honors the abundant cultures and traditions of the peoples of Providence

• Learns about the full range of perspective, cultures, and knowledge in the community, including Indigenous communities’ self­-determination*, healing practices and cultures 

• Protects, restores, and preserves cultural, historic, and sacred sites of Native ­Aboriginal ­Indigenous people and captured Black people

• Respects and honors Indigenous peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures that are deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, religions and healing beliefs and ceremonies and artistic expression as well as rooted in self­-determination* and self­-governance 

4) A Racially Equitable & Just Providence upholds Self Determination*

Frontline communities of color* are autonomous and have the right to craft decisions that impact their lives and their communities. Frontline communities of color* have the resilience and expertise to be our own leaders. It is only in the dignity of our self determination* that we can thrive as a community. 

5) A Racially Equitable and Just Providence co­-creates and co­-leads governance with frontline communities of color* and the City of Providence to protect the space for communities' self­-determination*, and ensure equitable access to resources, information, and power

These systems should allow for deep democracy* with meaningful and ongoing processes of governance that are transparent and allow for equal power and ability to influence Providence decisions. For the City of Providence, this means all community members have access to participate in decisions about the City. Access includes: 

• Compensation so that people without the resources, money or time can afford to participate without sacrificing their well­being or their families' well-being 

• Information sent out in video, paper, online and offline formats that is translated into Providence's languages as well as using language that all residents can understand

• Respecting and valuing the lived experience of Providence frontline community members of color as an essential source of expertise and wisdom

• Addressing the inequity in power and resources that frontline communities of color* hold in Providence

• Being accountable to frontline communities of color* 

6) A Racially Equitable and Just Providence values education for our children and youth. Education is a fundamental right for our children and youth

The City of Providence should: 

• Support education that embraces diverse teaching and learning methods and roots us in our communities' culture and traditions

• Provide accessible and equitable academic resources and pathways that take our children and youth where they desire to go in their career and life

• Implement restorative justice practices in our school systems and end criminalization of our children and youth of color 

• Ensure educators and administration reflect the ethnic and racial makeup of the student body

• End the school to prison pipeline 

7) A Racially Equitable & Just Providence practices Local, Regional, National and International Solidarity* 

This means the City of Providence should work across cities, states and countries to support racial equity* and justice as well as fight for the rights of frontline community members as they are their own. 

8) A Racially Equitable and Just Providence must create meaningful work 

Meaningful work entails full employment for all frontline communities of color* in Providence. For the City of Providence this means: 

• Openly encouraging the formation of workers' democratic structures

• Supporting collective bargaining for retaining working communities and building a life of dignity and inclusion

• Ending the exploitation of Black and Brown bodies in prison, and in providing work for little or no pay

• Supporting work that lifts up and centers the beauty and intellectual brilliance of our communities

• Ending employment discrimination and nepotism in municipal employment

• Creating work that does not harm our people or the Earth.

9) A Racially Equitable & Just Providence requires building a sustainable local economy now, one that we produce and consume to live well without living better at the expense of others.

For Providence this means we move towards: 

• Zero Waste Clean and Efficient Public Transportation

• Clean Community Energy

• Regional Food & Water Systems

• Efficient, Affordable, and Durable Housing Ecosystem 

• Restoration & Stewardship 

10) A Racially Equitable & Just Providence Respects Community rights to Land, Water, and Food Sovereignty 

For Providence this means supporting land ownership by people of color and educating people of color about their rights to land, water and food. 

11) A Racially Equitable and Just Providence works to end the extractive economy. 

For Providence, this means:

• Eliminate fossil fuel dependence and wasteful use of scarce metals and minerals

• Eliminate production of plastics, toxic chemicals, synthetic substances and our dependency on them

• Reduce waste and eliminate wasteful practices that hurt our environment and ecosystems

• Eliminate destruction of nature and invasion of natural spaces (e.g., land, water, wildlife, forests, soil, ecosystems)

Glossary Of Terms

Buen Vivir: Living well without living better at the expense of others. The fundamental human right to clean, healthy and adequate air, water, land, food, education, transportation, safety, and housing. Just relationships with each other and with the natural world, of which we are a part. 

Deep Democracy: A form of governance including direct and ongoing participation of community members in civic institutions and organizations, including equitable problem solving and capacity­ building for citizens and City workers.

Dominant Culture: One that is able, through economic or political power, to impose its values, language, and ways of behaving within a political or social entity (a city, for example) in which multiple cultures are present. In the United States, the dominant culture is that of White people, referred to as White supremacy. 

Frontline Communities of Color: Communities of color most impacted by the crises of ecology, economy and democracy, including the Indigenous, African­ American, Black, Latino and Southeast Asian communities. There is particular emphasis on people of color who are refugees and immigrants, people with records, speakers of languages other than English, and LGBTQ. 

Just Transition: A framework that has been developed by the trade union movement to include a range of social interventions needed to secure workers' jobs and livelihoods and shift to sustainable production, including avoiding climate change, protecting biodiversity, among other challenges. 

Quality of Life: General well­being of individuals and societies including access to clean, healthy and adequate air, water, land, food, education, transportation, safety, and housing. 

Racial Equity: When a person's outcome is not predicted by the color of their skin. 

Self­-Determination: Freedom of a people to determine the way in which they shall be governed and whether or not they shall be self­-governed. 

Solidarity: Mutual respect for and responsibility to support one another’s human rights.