In a previous blog in this series, we outlined our operating analysis and framework for creating an equitable education and workforce development system. Dubbed Fruit and Root, that framework stipulates that we must focus our efforts on both the “fruit” (the visible and magnified outcomes of racism) and the “root” (the personal, interpersonal, institutional, and structural and systemic causes of inequity).
The communities participating in the Building Equitable Pathways (BEP) project are charged with naming the “roots” they are addressing through their respective projects and initiatives. At this phase of the journey, we’re exploring these two roots of racism:
● Individual, or personal, biases against other individuals or groups, and internalized biases against oneself based on a socially disadvantaged racial identity.
● Interpersonal dynamics and ways individuals engage with other individuals and groups who have been historically excluded by law or custom from societal benefits and resources.
Using this explorative process, BEP communities are moving from a conceptual understanding of the Fruit and Root framework to an operational understanding of personal bias and interpersonal racism, and the practical application of tactics to address them.
To get an idea of how this approach works in practice, we recently interviewed representatives of one of our BEP intermediary partners, Say Yes Buffalo, to find out how they are operationalizing Fruit and Root analysis.
A Buffalo, New York State-based nonprofit that opened in 2012, Say Yes Buffalo started as a program that offered scholarships to graduates of the Buffalo public school system. It provided in-school supports to address students’ non-academic needs and worked to remove barriers that could prevent them from graduating. It has since scaled its operations into cradle-to-career model and now offers a wide range of programs and services to support students and families. One of its newest offerings is CareerWise Greater Buffalo, a modern youth apprenticeship program.
Say Yes Buffalo serves as an intermediary between employers, the public school district, higher education partners, and community partners. The organization is committed to equity, both internally and externally. More information about Say Yes Buffalo is available on the organization’s website.
Here’s what our colleagues at Say Yes to Buffalo told us about their efforts to explore the roots of racism internally and with employer partners.