L-R: Mary Pender Greene; Tracy Phillips, Director Southern Brooklyn Family Services; Susan Baydur, Program Planning Coordinator, Evaluation & Review; Joan Adams, Director of Anti-Racism and Multicultural Consultation and Training Services
Racial Affinity Groups
Established in 2006, the Racial Affinity groups were initially comprised of the Men of Color (MOC), Women of Color (WOC) and the White Anti-Racist Caucus and later, the combined People of Color and White Anti-Racist Caucus. These affinity groups were convened to process the manifestations of institutional racism and develop programming to advance anti-racism work within the agency. In 2008, the Men of Color and Women of Color Caucuses, respectively merged and became known as the People of Color Caucus. In 2009, the White Anti-Racist Caucus became known as the White Anti-Racist Learning and Leadership Collaborative. Also during 2009, both affinity groups began holding regional meetings throughout the New York Metropolitan area.
The People of Color Caucus is a safe place open to all staff of color where people work to process issues of internal oppression. Similarly, the White Anti-Racist Learning and Leadership Collaborative is open to all white staff and is a place where staff work collectively to identify institutional racism and privilege within the work environment. The Racial Affinity Groups provide a forum in which JBFCS staff members’ dialogue about racial identity and its manifestations in professional as well as familial communities. The White Anti- Racist Leadership Collaborative works in solidarity and support with JBFCS’ People of Color Affinity Caucus; this includes monthly meetings to plan effective ways to advance anti-racism work within JBFCS.
