What does an anti-racist Central Colorado look like to us?
We must first acknowledge and admit to our place within “the bubble” of white supremacy and privilege, and acknowledge BIPOC displacements and genocide historically within our communities.
Once we name our place within inequities, only then can we work to:
encourage BIPOC voices into positions of power,
establish safe trading places or spaces where we can build empathy and listening skills,
eliminate class inequities and encourage the equity of our neighborhoods.
An anti-racist Central Colorado has affordable housing options for everyone, including adequate resources for homeless and transient populations; representation of many cultures, races, and ethnicities in our collective language, documents, signage, art, etc.; community-led accountability initiatives that bring neighbors together to support each other; and more bartering opportunities and community sharing resources; to name just a few...
An anti-racist Central Colorado is a place where all members of our community and other communities feel welcome and safe, with leadership that understands why anti-racism work is important and necessary.
SURJ Theory of Change:
SURJ’s role as part of a multi-racial movement is to undermine white support for white supremacy and to help build a racially just society.
That work cannot be done in isolation from or disconnected from the powerful leadership of communities of color. It is one part of a multi-racial, cross-class movement centering people of color leadership.
Therefore, SURJ believes in resourcing organizing led by people of color, and maintaining strong accountability relationships with organizers and communities of color as central part of our theory of change.
SURJ believes that we must ground our organizing in a framework of “mutual interest” -- white supremacy is integral to economic injustice, to maintaining patriarchy and other forms of oppression. Racism and white supremacy keep the many divided for the benefit of the few. We must have an inclusive, open-hearted approach to organizing, calling people into this work rather than creating barriers to participation while maintaining a clear political line. When those of us who are white realize that racial justice is core to our liberation as well, then masses of white people will withdraw support from white supremacy. Together, as part of a powerful multi-racial, cross-class movement for collective liberation we can force the system of white supremacy to crumble.
In order to activate this theory of change, we employ three core strategies:
Delegitimize racist institutions
Fight for a fair economy that refuses to pit communities against each other
Shift culture (meaning the underlying beliefs folks have about people and the world) in a way that undermines support for white supremacy
These strategies are dependent on multi-racial organizing and a specific focus on deepening, amplifying, and centering the leadership and organizing of poor and working-class folks, rural communities, and the U.S. South.
Within this framework, our network is using a number of tactics, including leading and participating in campaigns, base-building, direct action, relationship-building, communications work and more.
How do we engage our General Membership?
Be a safe space for ongoing, never ending conversation.
lead by example.
Provide tangible opportunities for everyone to contribute, and offer a clear direction forward.
give power to many instead of just a select few.
Continue offering opportunities for foundation building: education, research, self-exploration, and community building within anti-racism frameworks, and highlight how these frameworks are actually intersectional;
engage tourism by being visible in our communities, so we invite into the work those who visit here and who work in the tourist sector.
