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


Screen shot of the headline of the story
How Hospitals Are Failing Black Mothers
Story - Written
Brought to you by ProPublica
Screen shot of the headline of the story
Systemic Racism Starts and Ends with Housing
Story - Written
Brought to you by Shelterforce
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Young Men of Color
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
Screen shot of the homepage for the report
2020 State of Black America Unmasked
Resource - Report
Brought to you by National Urban League
Screen shot of the headline of the story
The Problem With Research on Racial Bias and Police Shootings
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab
Screen shot of the headline of the story
US Black-White Inequality in 6 Stark Charts
Story - Written
Brought to you by CNN
Screen shot of the headline of the story
How Data Can Create Racial Equity
Story - Written
Brought to you by CityLab
Race Counts: Racial Equity Index
Race Counts: Racial Equity Index
Tool - Data/mapping Tool
Brought to you by Advancement Project
Picture of a Black mother playing with her child
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
First Page for Black Lives Matter
Black Lives Matter: A Commentary on Racism and Public Health
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by APHA
Cincinnati Mural Wall. Photo by Stacy Wegley
Health Equity and COVID-19
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons


Resources for Action

Screen shot of the homepage
Law for Black Lives
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by L4BL
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What Exactly Does It Mean to Defund the Police?
Story - Written
Brought to you by The Cut
Screen shot of the headline of the story
97 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice
Story - Written
Brought to you by Medium
Creating Safer Communities: Lessons on Violence Prevention
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
Screen shot of the front cover of the guide
Building Momentum From The Ground Up: A Toolkit For Promoting Justice In Policing
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox
Brought to you by PolicyLink
Screen shot of the homepage
Black Lives Matter
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by Black Lives Matter
Screen shot of the homepage
Campaign Zero
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by WeTheProtesters
Screen shot of the homepage
Neighborhood Funders Group
Resource - Website/webpage
Brought to you by NFG
Screen shot of the headline of the story
Community Organizations Have to Talk About Police Violence Directly
Story - Written
Brought to you by Shelterforce
Race Counts: The Full Picture
Race Counts: The Full Picture
Tool
Brought to you by Advancement Project
Cover page of primer on Racial Equity Policy Design and Advocacy
Racial Equity Policy Design and Advocacy: A Primer
Resource
Brought to you by Prosperity Now
Collage of portraits from 100 Million Healthier Lives movement
Engaging People with Lived Experience Toolkit
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox
Brought to you by 100MHL


Lifting Up Voices of Communities of Color 

This American Life Podcast Page
Essay B
Story - Audio
Screen shot of the headline of the story
Encore: A Black Father Answers Tough Questions From His Son
Story - Audio
Brought to you by StoryCorps
Photo of a mural depicting two people of color
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
anta and her daughter holding hands Image supplied by N. Anta Gueye-James
When the "Land of Opportunity" is Elsewhere and You Must Leap
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Crooked Podcast Site page
Change
Story - Audio
Brought to you by Crooked
Shutterstock Image: Black Lives Matter people holding signs
Black Lives Matter and African Allyship
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
A collage of four photos of community members engaging in dialogue.
Dialogue as a Process for Community Change
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. 

Cover of Communities WIN
Communities WIN: A Community Guide for Dialogue and Action
Tool - Toolkit/toolbox
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 01/22/2020
rainbow colored hallway Photo by Robert Katzki on Unsplash
Lifting up Stories of Community Change on Community Commons
Tool
Brought to you by Community Commons
Cincinnati Mural Wall. Photo by Stacy Wegley
An Introduction to Stewardship
Story - Original
Brought to you by Community Commons

 Related Topics


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Community Policing

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Belonging and Civic Muscle

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Racial Justice

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Justice System

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Racism

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Black and African Americans