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This strategy includes activities such as ongoing dialogues or story circles with people that are different than you. One central premise is deep and active listening. Here are some examples:

Dialogue Cohorts are a CEC initiative that involves ongoing dialogue with elders in the local community.

Join the  listserv or join their meetings (usually bi-weekly). Unlearning White Supremacy is a space for all those who hold white privilege and institutional power to reflect on our internalized white supremacy (although all are welcome to the space). Whether you are a student, staff, or faculty, and wherever you are in processing your relationship to whiteness, we emphatically call you to join us! Please email [email protected] to join the listserv. This group hosts occasional large meetings as well as regular reading groups throughout the academic year. Also make time to talk with other folks you know, be it friends, family, coaches, or colleagues about white supremacy, systemic racism, and how you can address your role in it.

This strategy entails bringing people together to act collectively in a shared interest or common goal. Community organizing often includes mapping relationships and power dynamics, and deciding on collective action. Some examples:

Learn and practice the principles and skills of organizing through the Community Organizing Cohort. Community Engagement Center staff and professional organizers host a space for students to more deeply articulate their self interest and to find their place in movements for social change.

  A multi-faith community organizing group that has partnered with Macalester on community organizing development, trainings, and projects. Vivian Ihekoronye ’13 and  Ollin Montes ’17 are field organizers. Isaiah’s �����Ի��� pages link people to information, events, and actions.

This strategy involves supporting public policy. Advocacy groups often gather information and communicate via videos, social media, or print communication to the general public or to specific decision makers. Some examples:

Reach out and contact an elected official about the issues most important to you. The Minnesota State Legislature is in session January through mid-May, and we encourage everyone to communicate with state elected officials about issues that you care about. Our Minnesota Governor is . If you live on campus, your Minnesota Senator is  and your Minnesota Representative is .

We also encourage you to communicate with .

There are countless issues you may want to advocate for. Below are a few local organizations focused on racial justice and environmental justice. If you would like to connect with other kinds of advocacy work, contact the Community Engagement Center.

  A network of groups working to undermine white supremacy and to work toward racial justice.

 MN350 has a number of different initiatives currently focused on environmental justice and sustainability.

  Organization works with faith communities on environmental issues across the state.

This strategy entails strengthening the capacity of local residents or associations to work together by supporting opportunities for interpersonal interaction. Oral history projects and neighborhood clean-ups fit into this strategy. Examples include:

St. Paul’s infrastructure of 17  neighborhood organizations supports a lot of community-building work.  and the l are longtime partners of Mac, and have hosted the college’s Off Campus Student Employment (OCSE) students in addition to partnering on academic projects.

Gathering and sharing the histories of neighborhoods, especially places that have have experienced significant trauma from institutional racism, is another way to facilitate community building. An example is Macalester’s long-term relationship with the Rondo neighborhood, including the project.

�ճ���� project explores structural racism by researching and mapping racial covenants in the Twin Cities.

����Founded by Abaki Beck ’15, this resource aims to “amplify the voices of marginalized communities, educate others and ourselves on critical social justice issues, empower marginalized peoples, and incite change.”

This strategy uses fair or sustainable solutions to social problems. It often includes market-based solutions, such as affordable technology to purify water or an app with a clear social benefit. Examples of this strategy include:

Action Fund supports off-campus community engagement projects proposed and led by students in direct collaboration with a local community-based organization. The projects all have action components, fulfilling unmet needs of Twin Cities’ communities, as well as learning/education components that promote reflection, meaning making, and sharing of lessons learned. Award amounts up to $5,000 or less are available per project.

Davis Projects for Peace encourages student initiative, innovation and social entrepreneurship focusing on sustainable, community-driven projects that can take place anywhere in the world (including locally). Each project is awarded $10,000 and completed during the summer.

This strategy focuses on raising or contributing funds or requested goods or materials to a cause or an organization. It includes hosting a fundraiser, spreading a specific need across social media, and gathering contributions for a food drive. While there are unlimited causes and organizations that you could support, some examples of this strategy include:

 is an online platform to support organizations and schools in Minnesota, and  allows you to search for organizations and causes across the country in order to make a contribution.

�ճ󾱲��� lists a number of ways to make donations to support racial justice in Minnesota.

This strategy focuses on creating economic opportunities for individuals and groups. It includes supporting new and existing small businesses with technical support and access to loans. Examples include:

�ճ���� supports new and existing small businesses throughout the metropolitan region. Other organizations that do similar work often focus on a specific geography or cultural community. Below are some examples:

  A long-term Macalester nonprofit partner is raising funds to help rebuild Lake Street businesses, many of which are family-owned and owned by immigrants and people of color. Matt Kazinka ’11 is the Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager. Donations are accepted .

 supports the Latino business community in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and throughout Minnesota.

 has compiled a helpful resource of organizations and initiatives assisting and restoring Northside businesses and community organizations.  See the resource ������������ has updates on events, articles and needs.

This strategy involves public disagreement with a situation or policy and directly calling for change. Engaging in protests and other acts of civil disobedience is a fundamental expression of free speech within a democracy. For those drawn to participate in protests and demonstrations, research groups and individuals involved in organized actions in advance to make informed decisions about where and how you would like to engage. Also, keep in mind the safety of yourselves and others as you make decisions about if and how to engage in protests and demonstrations.

Given the very ephemeral nature of protest plans and need for up-to-date information, we recommend following organizations of interest to you on social media as well as local organizers. Also, consider amplifying their work via your social media contacts. Examples of active organizations include:

See Mac’s  with helpful information and resources.

This strategy involves motivating others to participate in and influence public policy via formal political channels. This includes voter drives and volunteering for a political party or candidate. Examples include:

Mobilize Mac efforts support Mac students, faculty, and staff to engage in local and national elections and continues to support a coalition of people from across campus to engage with our formal political system.

Consider volunteering for a candidate in an upcoming election.

This strategy involves informal efforts to assist individuals and families. Examples include:

 is a helpful resource showing community-based work locally in this spirit.

, as well as provide local mutual aid networks with tools to employ political education and activism.

This strategy involves getting directly involved with non-profit organizations and schools to address community needs. The Community Engagement Center’s platform allows Mac students to easily get involved through our department with specific student-identified/led opportunities with long-term community partners throughout the Twin Cities.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, let us know at [email protected] and we will help you to identify engagement opportunities that fit your interests.

This strategy involves acting on your values and civic commitments in your everyday life. Examples include pointing out problematic language, educating yourself about the history of BIPOC communities in your region, and searching for socially responsible businesses to patronize. Examples include:

 by Ibram X. Kendi,  by Layla F. Saad,���� by Michelle Alexander, and .

The annual International Roundtable, hosted by the Kofi Annan Institute for Global Citizenship, is a community-wide and globally-focused forum exploring critical issues from a variety of perspectives.

American historian and Professor emeritus of history Jim Stewart created the video series  Learn more about the project from the .

and spend your dollars locally.