129 - Ecosystem Mapping Community Driven Racial Healing Efforts–Aligning Community Voice with a Racial Healing Framework

Abstract Information: In 2017, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) unveiled its Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) initiative, funding 14 communities to enact a framework aimed at catalyzing enduring change while confronting both historical and contemporary racial injustices. Decision Information Resources Inc. (DIR) was chosen by WKKF as the national evaluator for this initiative. The evaluation's primary objectives are twofold: (1) to document the implementation of TRHT and (2) to monitor shifts within communities/networks regarding equity and inclusion.

The core premise of the TRHT framework, outlined in its guidebook, posits that by promoting narrative shifts through truth-telling and fostering racial healing via trust-building initiatives, local coalitions can be fortified and empowered to instigate transformative shifts within three pivotal systems: law, economy, and segregation. TRHT primarily emphasizes healing and truth-telling to dismantle both conscious and unconscious belief systems perpetuating a hierarchy of human worth, which obstructs equitable access to quality education, employment, safe neighborhoods, and housing opportunities (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2016, p. 8). It stands as an action-oriented framework reflective of America's diversity and complex history, offering culturally sensitive guidance adaptable to diverse community contexts.

Given the community-driven nature of TRHT implementation, our evaluation utilizes a blend of developmental and formative methodologies, including environmental and media scans to pinpoint media outlets highlighting local endeavors and amplifying community voices/initiatives aligned with the TRHT framework. Our initial endeavors involved identifying evidence of and gauging the extent to which communities were actively embracing the TRHT framework (or similar frameworks with akin objectives), whether through direct TRHT affiliations or independently. Overall, the environmental scan illuminated the specific aspects of the framework receiving the greatest emphasis in each community, aiding in the assessment of TRHT's active implementation or similar frameworks across communities.

The key learning to date is that this community-based approach to TRHT implementation facilitated relationship building. The effectiveness with which relationships (and trust) were established in communities was contingent upon the Place Leads’ approach to implementation. Place Leads with a stronger connection to the community and an enhanced community-centered approach were able to gain and establish trust with leaders more effectively and at an earlier stage than other Place Leads.

In our forthcoming poster presentation, we will narrow our focus to select communities, expanding on these insights through ecosystem mapping to illustrate relationships among community organizations engaged in analogous efforts within the same locale, along with opportunities for forging new partnerships. Supplementary data from other evaluation activities, such as social network analyses and survey data collection, will be incorporated as needed. The poster content will focus on the methodology and approach, including detailed ecosystem maps. Ultimately, our findings will be disseminated back to the community, fostering opportunities for collective sense-making. We will also offer recommendations on leveraging the mapped insights to harness strengths, address gaps, and seize opportunities to advance racial healing and transformation across communities.