Raw’s commitment to anti-racism and justice

RAW’s mission is to ignite the desire to create and confidence to succeed in our youth. However, our kids live in a world where essential things like safety and security are not a given.  Our BIPOC youth are witnessing acts of racially-fueled violence committed against people that look like them.  While the national focus and attention on race-based hatred is encouraging, acts of violence against members of the BIPOC community continue.  Community members, including RAW’s kids and their families, are often afraid to leave their homes fearing they will be the next victims of racial violence. These are daily reminders of the world we live in.  

RAW is dedicated to anti-racism and justice. We stand against race-based violence and systems of oppression rooted in white supremacy, the belief that white people constitute a superior race and should therefore dominate society.* As we see acts of racism daily, we take a look within our own organization and ask, “How are we upholding these systems of oppression within our own community?” We know that it is embedded into the very fabric of our society, and thus in RAW as well.  In order to achieve profound change we must first acknowledge where and how it exists within ourselves. We are working on embedding equity into everything we do and realize that there is so much more we need to learn. We are learning as we go, and will not stop.

We create and hold space for our youth and community to process and work through trauma. We believe all kids should be seen and heard, and we will continue to make space for hard conversations. Beyond listening, we strive to empower our kids to use their voices and tell their stories. We foster a sense of agency and confidence in them so that they can foster growth and healing in their communities.

We know there are risks involved in speaking one’s truth, and we remind our youth that we always have their backs. We believe that through our work, we are inherently dismantling the belief that one race is superior to another.  We believe that our kids, now and as they grow to become RAW alums, are themselves dismantling systems of oppression.  They do this by taking agency and by speaking and living their truths.

We are fortunate to have an ongoing dialogue with our incredible young people and community of alumni who motivate us. This moves us to hold ourselves accountable as we continue to learn, unlearn, and grow as an organization.  We are here to support our youth, alumni, staff, and community at large. We will continue to stand up against racism and hate, although our voice alone is not enough. We remain committed to supporting and working with our kids on each of their personal journeys. Words, when combined with actions, create change.

*Oxford dictionary definition