Urban Assembly Anti-Racist Commitment

January 03, 2020

The Urban Assembly (UA) commits to being an anti-racist organization striving to advance the social and economic mobility of students through public education. We value the uniqueness that each student brings to our schools, and honor the various social and cultural contexts from which they come. We commit ourselves to confronting and dismantling inequities across intersecting identities for students in all of our programs and schools. We recognize that equity is vital to the long-term success of our organization, and that the pursuit of true equity will ensure that we always act in the best interest of our students.

Acknowledging that racism (as defined as the combination of race, prejudice and power*) is pervasive in our education system and harmful to students, the UA is committed to confronting and dismantling racism in all areas of our work and influence. Maintaining our commitment to the safety and development of our students, the UA recognizes that all staff occupy a gatekeeping role in some capacity. As such, the UA will consistently encourage UA staff and partners to interrogate and confront personal bias, both conscious and unconscious.

The UA will take the necessary steps to ensure that staff can grow to become culturally competent and critically conscious in efforts to combat systemic oppression and ensure racial equity. We recognize that this commitment requires action. While acknowledging that UA staff members enter and evolve at different levels on the anti-racism continuum, we assert that this organization will strive to be anti-racist in all of its efforts. And finally, the UA recognizes that an organization is most effective when maintaining and valuing a safe, transparent and honest culture. We commit to upholding a culture that does not shy away from institutional mistakes, but learns and builds from its evolving history.

*As defined by The People’s Institute