I am excited to welcome you to St. Louis—a city with a rich history of racial justice activism and cultural diversity. It has been two years since our last Facing Race convening, and we've been counting down the months since then. Now more than ever, we need this time to connect, to address the attacks on our work, to build strategies for the challenges ahead, and to find and celebrate moments of liberation and joy.
Over the last two years, we've witnessed both challenges and wins in our fight for racial justice. We've seen continued attempts to undermine our democracy, an all-out war on DEI practices, policies, and efforts, and persistent systemic inequities in housing, education, health, criminal justice, and more.
Yet, we’ve also seen the power of community organizing, the impact of cross-sectoral collaborations, and the creative solutions emerging from local communities—solutions driven by those most impacted by systemic racism.
“Our Power, Our Solutions” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a recognition of the resilience, wisdom, and sheer determination of those who’ve been fighting for justice and equity for decades. And when we say “Our Solutions,” we mean it. We believe that the best answers to tough problems come from the people who've lived through them.
Here’s what makes this year’s conference special:
- We’re bridging the gap between national efforts and local organizing.
- We’re putting the spotlight on community-led solutions and local leaders. Because let’s face it—they’ve been the experts all along.
- We’re bringing together civil servants, community organizers, and activists from other sectors to discuss and build strategies to advance racial equity.
While Missouri, like many states, faces political challenges that threaten to divide us, we gather here to strengthen our collective power. Together, we aim to advance a multiracial democracy where we can all thrive.
As we gather in St. Louis, we collectively commemorate the 10th anniversary of Mike Brown Jr.’s death and the Ferguson Uprising. These defining moments in our nation’s history ignited the Movement for Black Lives, thrusting systemic racism and demands for police accountability into the national spotlight.
We honor Brown’s memory through the “As I See You” art exhibit by the Michael Brown Sr. Chosen for Change Foundation and celebrate the wave of energy and activism that followed his death. Your presence here is a testament to that enduring spirit of resistance and hope.
We’re grateful to be here with you. And truly, we have more work ahead of us. We must commit to learning and unlearning together, building alliances, donating our time and money to organizations at the forefront of the movements for justice, and staying focused on our vision of a just and equitable society for all.
Together, we can harness our collective power to build a future where racial justice and equity is not just an aspiration, but a reality.
Glenn Harris
President of Race Forward
