Black Lives Matter
photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
Community Commons is dedicated to lifting up and amplifying community voices and advancing an equitable approach to improving well-being through sharing resources and tools to incite action. We will continue to draw attention to long-standing inequities and root causes of systemic racism and violence, and to seek out and amplify voices of BIPOC (black indigenous people of color) and stories from communities of color -- to listen and to learn.
We are committed to sharing where and how systemic racism shows up in our communities and neighborhoods nationwide, and the corresponding negative implications on the well-being of our Black neighbors. Importantly, we aim to bring to light what has been successful in combating racism and advancing well-being among communities of color, including policies, strategies, resources, and stories of change. Our hope is that the network of Commons change-makers can continue to come together for the common good and to stand in solidarity with the Black community. Black Lives Matter, and collectively, we need to do better.
The State of Black Well-Being
In terms of well-being, Black people in the United States are still sicker and still die younger than their white counterparts. A review of Black health disadvantage found that relative racial disparities began at birth and continued up to age 65 years. We’ve seen this evidenced clearly in the way coronavirus has disproportionately affected Black people: Black Americans are dying of COVID-19 at three times the rate of White people. It’s clear that racism puts the Black community’s health at risk, and that institutional racism -- the ways government and non-government institutions discriminate through policies and practices -- is ingrained in our societies and must be addressed in order to combat and reverse health inequities. Racism (and police brutality) is a public health issue, and in recent weeks many municipalities have rightly declared racism a public health crisis.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Young Men of Color
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
The Problem With Research on Racial Bias and Police Shootings
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab
Health Disparities are a Symptom of Broader Social and Economic Inequities
Story - Written
Brought to you by KFF
Bearing the Burden: How racism-related stress hurts America’s black mothers and babies
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 10/02/2018
Black Lives Matter: A Commentary on Racism and Public Health
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by APHA
Resources for Action
Resources to Challenge Policing and Incarceration as Part of a COVID-19 Response
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by HIP
Building Community Safety: Practical Steps Toward Liberatory Transformation
Story - Written
Brought to you by Truthout
Creating Safer Communities: Lessons on Violence Prevention
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
Building Momentum From The Ground Up: A Toolkit For Promoting Justice In Policing
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox
Brought to you by PolicyLink
Community Organizations Have to Talk About Police Violence Directly
Story - Written
Brought to you by Shelterforce
Inclusion, Belonging, and Excellence for One King County: Addressing Implicit Bias, Racial Anxiety, and Stereotype Threat
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox
Brought to you by King County
Lifting Up Voices of Communities of Color
Encore: A Black Father Answers Tough Questions From His Son
Story - Audio
Brought to you by StoryCorps
Racism Has Youths of Color Seriously Stressed Out
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 03/09/2017
We Are Here: The Faces from Third & Plum, Part 2
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 01/10/2019
We Are Here: The Faces from Third & Plum, Part 1
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 11/15/2018
Can One Community Organization Change an Entire City? by Dr. Mildred McClain
Story - Video
Brought to you by EPA
Creating Legacies for Living Together: Ending Hair Discrimination to Advance Well-Being
Story - Original
Published on 02/13/2020
When the "Land of Opportunity" is Elsewhere and You Must Leap
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Add Your Voice
We believe in the power of storytelling to inspire dialogue about what’s possible, as well as stewardship that transforms communities for health, sustainability, and equity. We believe that the most innovative, sustainable strategies are shared and inspired by those working on the ground. Community Commons has long been home to stories of community change, and has worked with contributing writers to publish the stories of those with lived experience of inequity and racism. By sharing stories, we can learn from each other and spread real change for the greater good. Use the embedded form on the Lifting Up Stories of Change on Community Commons card below to share your story.