•       Milwaukee is struggling with the pervasive ramifications of racist policies and attitudes in the areas of the economy, education, health, housing, immigration, the justice system, voting, and more. 
•       Making racial justice progress in these areas will rely not only on the private, individual knowledge of our history and current conditions, but on the act of publicly and collectively acknowledging our history and current conditions, through conversation, community work, and civic duty.       

CHALLENGE WHITE SUPREMACY

•       Dismantling Milwaukee’s racism will require challenging the ever present cultural assumption that the characteristics of white culture are normal and superior. This falsehood is entrenched throughout our communities and organizations, even amongst people of color. 
•       We must educate and empower ourselves to confront and delegitimize white supremacy culture where we find it in our everyday lives through trainings and workshops. For white people, this is a long-neglected and particularly important part of the work.

SPREAD KNOWLEDGE AND ADVOCATE FOR EASY ACCESS TO INFORMATION

•       Lack of information is a racial justice issue. When people of color lack information in areas such as mapping channels from education to the workplace, starting businesses, developing credit and obtaining loans, registering to vote, holding law enforcement accountable, and accessing resources of all kinds, the ramifications of racism with which they already struggle are amplified. 
•       We are responsible for spreading knowledge and information in the interests of racial equity, and for advocating for the easy access to information that will assist all people in finding the pathways and resources to make better lives.    

MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS AND COLLABORATE

•       Living a segregated experience in Milwaukee contributes to the confirmation of racist beliefs. To dismantle Milwaukee’s racism, it is essential to make connections in our racial justice work across perceived lines, be they racial, generational, religious, political or otherwise. 
•       We will collaborate with each other to enrich and strengthen both our relationships and our racial justice work. 

PRACTICE COURAGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT 

•       This work is not easy. We actively practice courage by proceeding with the work even when we are afraid. We grow through our courage, becoming more self-aware and compassionate as we proceed on our journeys. 
•       When we see someone who needs assistance, we provide encouragement to them. When we make progress, we must take joy. The racial justice journey for each and all of us is life-long. As such, we need to continually fortify each other with support.  

LEVERAGE YOUR TALENTS AND TIME

•       Everyone who comes to racial justice will bring their own talents, interests, and availability. There is much work to do, and the best way for an individual to leverage their work is by contributing in an area of personal interest, where they can utilize their own skills, with a realistic schedule for their life. 
•       Whatever work one feels called to do, and whether they work for an hour a month or are a full time activist, all community work has value. 

PARTICIPATE IN COLLECTIVE ACTION 

•       Our work is centered around collective action. We seek the fundamental, long-term change that comes from local individuals and communities coming together to make local improvements and changes.
•       We believe in local participation, local organizations, and coalitions between those organizations as a force for dismantling racism.

SERVE MILWAUKEE 

•       As residents of greater Milwaukee, we are working to make our home a model of racial equity, justice and harmony. This is not an academic study of racism. This is boots on the ground, community based work specific to where we live.  
•       As people of color and as white people, we must prioritize continually hearing the voices and knowing the experiences of all of Milwaukee’s people of color. We must use their feedback and reinforce our accountability to them. We are coming together to tear down racism in Milwaukee and to build community.