The Racial Equity Coalition of Athens County is a collaborative space to advance racial equity and racial justice within the Athens community. We do this through anti-racist social, economic, educational, and cultural initiatives. The Coalition is composed of leaders and community members who share the same vision of creating a more tolerant and fair Athens Community. Together, the members aim to amplify the message of tolerance and fairness through collaboration and the mutual support of each other’s efforts.

HISTORY

Originally formed in 2018 as a task force for the first racial equity training hosted by the Foundation, the task force consisted of people working in this field to serve as advisors and help with the planning of the training. It became apparent as the group came together that the conversation was much bigger than the learning activity. The participants wanted to continue meeting to share what each was working on individually as well as finding opportunities for collective action.

In 2020, the group held its first retreat and formalized itself as a coalition. Although briefly disrupted by the pandemic, the group continued to meet as the conversation on Racial Equity and Racial Justice became even more important during the pandemic and mass movement to denounce police brutality brought by the murder of African-Americans around the country.

The taskforce continues to evolve to this day, growing in membership, and developing efforts that promote anti-racism, tolerance, and fairness in the Athens Community.

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Are you ready to collaborate for Racial Equity?

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Racial Equity Training
The Athens County Foundation, together with community partners, bring the Racial Equity Institute’s Groundwater Presentation and Racial Equity Phase 1 Workshop to Athens.
The Racial Equity Workshop (Phase 1) is a two-day training designed to develop the capacity of participants to better understand racism in its institutional and structural forms. Moving away from a focus on personal bigotry and bias, this workshop presents a historical, cultural, and structural analysis of racism. With shared language and a clearer understanding of how institutions and systems are producing unjust and inequitable outcomes, participants should leave the training better equipped to begin to work for change. The Groundwater Presentation is a lively and participatory three-hour introduction to Racial Equity. In this training, REI organizers use stories and data to present a perspective that racism is fundamentally structural in nature. By examining the characteristics of modern-day racial inequity, the presentation introduces participants to an analysis that most find immediately helpful and relevant.
Stories of COVID19 in Athens County, OH
Tantrum Theater and the Racial Equity Coalition of Athens present Stories of COVID 19 from Athens County Ohio, a new series of community interviews with Athens area residents hosted by Charles Smith, Distinguished Professor of Playwriting in the School of Theater. This series brings to you the stories of racial and ethnic minorities in Athens County, their lives and their experiences during the pandemic. Broadcast dates are Thursdays on WOUB FM and AM stations starting July 9. Air times are approximately 7:45 am and 4:30 pm on FM and 6:20 am, 11:20 am, and 3:20 pm on AM. Episodes are posted on Wednesdays at www.tantrumtheater.org. Like and follow Tantrum Theater on Facebook to get notified about future episodes Like Tantrum Theater on Facebook!