Dr. Charlotte L. Williams, Professor and Director of the Center on Community Philanthropy at the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, has co-authored the research article, “Race and Racism as Structural Determinants for Emergency and Recovery Response in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico.”
The article was published in the May edition of Health Equity, a leading peer-reviewed journal that meets the need for authoritative information about health disparities and health equity among vulnerable populations. Williams co-authored the article with Dr. Carlos E. Rodríguez-Diaz, who is currently an Associate Professor and Director of the Community-Oriented Primary Care Program Department of Prevention and Community Health at George Washington University and was the Researcher in Residence and Visiting Philanthropy Faculty Scholar for the Center on Community Philanthropy in Spring 2018.
“This study highlights that issues of inequity and injustice must be viewed through the lens of race and racism in order to advance positive social change on behalf of people of color, marginalized populations, and all vulnerable segments of our society,” Williams said. “We challenge systems and structures that communities rely on including government, law enforcement, and public health to move with urgency toward internal and external transformation.”
Utilizing a series of semi-structured qualitative interviews with community members who had an active role in the hurricanes’ response and relief efforts, Williams and Rodríguez-Diaz find that systemic racism was perceived as a barrier to emergency and recovery response in the aftermath of the natural disasters, and that structural changes are required to reduce vulnerability and health inequities in Puerto Rico.
The article is the latest in a series of efforts that the Center on Community Philanthropy has taken in advancing racial equity since its formation in 2007.
Under Williams’ leadership, the Center has used its academic research and the convening efforts to host intentional dialogues on the significance of race and diversity. To enhance these discussions, the Center’s Scholars in Residence program welcomes scholars to study structural racism within communities and institutions of all sectors. Recent scholars include: Tonya Allen, President and CEO of the Skillman Foundation; Dr. William Bell, President and CEO of Casey Family Programs; Robin Ferriby, Senior Counsel of Clark Hill PLC; and Dr. Earl Lewis, President Emeritus of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. These scholars’ essays can be found in the compendium entitled, “Equity and Transformation: The Impact of Community Philanthropy in Creating Social Change.”
In addition, The Center created the Advancing Equity Award to uplift organizations that are using innovative solutions to address racial inequalities in their communities and advance progress toward inclusion. The award, which is presented on the National Day of Racial Healing in January, includes financial support for the recipients to continue and enhance their efforts of advancing equity.
Previous recipients of the award have made various commitments to addressing racial inequalities across Arkansas, including financial training to increase credit scores, outreach and education in the criminal justice system, and recruiting social justice-oriented individuals to serve as teachers for Arkansas students.
The Center hosted a summit as a part of its project, “Pathways to Racial Healing and Equity in the American South: A Community Philanthropy Strategy,” bringing together researchers and practitioners to explore structural racism impacting children’s education and health, and mobilizing community philanthropy leaders to better heal racial divisions and improve lives and communities.
In 2013, the Center published a compendium of essays by its Scholars in Residence, “Pathways to Racial Healing and Equity in the American South.”
The compendium highlights the Center’s ability to bring together a diverse group of scholars, experienced public servants, students, and members of the community to discuss difficult and contentious issues related to race and equity. Each scholar contributes his or her own unique lived experience to the continuing conversation about how to acknowledge the often violent history of race in the American South, and suggests myriad ways to move forward toward healing with the help of community philanthropy.
The Center’s Nonprofit Leadership Forum Series has offered in-depth discussions on building a stronger nonprofit sector. Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO of the Association of Black Foundation Executives, presented on strengthening the sector through “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”
The Center also created “Equity Talks,” a series of short informal conversations with local community leaders sharing different perspectives on equity throughout Arkansas.
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