In the summer of 2020, Sister Cities board members formed the Racial Justice and Equity working group (RJE), motivated by the renewed fervency for racial justice, embodied globally by movements such as Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police. RJE was created to assess our structures, processes programs, and practices and provide recommendations to improve racial justice and equity within Sister Cities. In the past year, we have met regularly, twice a month, and have identified the following priorities towards creating a more just, equitable, and anti-racist organization:

• Learning: Using available resources, continuously educate ourselves and reflect upon our understandings of and (in)actions toward racial justice and equity (RJE members have already been involved in this ongoing process). Resources to start with are linked in the "Learning" tab.

• Assessment: Based on the above and honoring the commitment to solidarity, examine the structures of Sister Cities with regards to their role in racial justice and equity.

• Involvement: Build support for racial justice work within Sister Cities (both in terms of participation in the RJE and financial, with at least 2% of the USESSC operating budget dedicated to racial justice and equity).

Next Steps

• Review the information in each section of this website and connect with your sistering committee and/or issue-based working group

• By June 15: Each sistering committee and issue-based working group nominates at least one liaison to meet with RJE. Send your group's liason's name and email to Emma at Folkerts.emma@gmail.com.

• By June 30, 2021: Each sistering committee and issue-based working group collaborates to complete a short questionnaire (a mini equity audit)

• Access the mini equity audit questions for committees and groups.

• Get together with your committee or group to discuss the questions and compile answers.

• Email the completed questionnaire (including the liasions' information) by June 30, 2021 to Emma at Folkerts.emma@gmail.com.