Race Forward announced today that Karla Bruce, former Chief Equity Officer for Fairfax County, Virginia, has joined the organization as its chief of staff. In this role, Bruce will maximize alignment across the organization to support racial equity, provide strategic counsel and guidance to the president and executive leadership team, and serve as a liaison with internal and external stakeholders.

MSNBC Host Joy-Ann Reid will headline Race Forward’s highly anticipated Facing Race conference. Reid is an MSNBC political analyst and host of “The ReidOut.” She has authored numerous books, including her most recent, Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America.

Race Forward and Americans for the Arts (AFTA) today announced the kick-off event for the Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy, running from Sept. 27 through Oct. 5, 2024. The week-long series of activities across the country will kick-off in St. Louis, MO, on Sept. 27 at 6:00 p.m. with a panel discussion on how arts and culture shape democracy, live performances, and viewing of the recently unveiled art installation honoring Michael Brown Jr., who was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, MO, ten years ago.

Crystal Jones, an experienced operations leader with more than 25 years of experience in finance, technology, and personnel management, has joined the organization as Chief Operating Officer. Jones will oversee all finance, operations, and human resources functions for the organization, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, financial planning and strategy, asset management, risk and liability management, information technology, systems management, and human resources.

Race Forward, one of the largest racial equity nonprofits in the country, announced today that Simone Bermudez has joined the organization as Senior Vice President of Development and Partnerships. In this role, Simone will lead a team responsible for the development and advancement of Race Forward’s fundraising and partnership strategy, including individual donations, foundation grants, philanthropy, and sponsorship. Simone will also serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Race Forward and Americans for the Arts (AFTA) announced today the 14 projects that received funding to anchor the inaugural Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy, a new initiative that leverages arts, culture, and creativity to elevate dialogues and spark action to advance a multiracial democracy. Other local projects, while not eligible for funding, are still encouraged to participate and add information about their activity to our Cultural Week of Action interactive map.

Race Forward, a national nonprofit working to catalyze movement building for racial justice, today announced the nine artist fellows, who are participating in its 2024 Housing, Land, and Justice Artist Fellowship. Each fellow received $20,000 to produce an original artwork or cultural production using media, visual or performance art that incorporates the core narrative and one rich storytelling theme from the housing justice story platform published in the PolicyLink Housing Justice Narrative Toolkit.

Race Forward and Americans for the Arts (AFTA) today announced Cultural Week of Action on Race and Democracy which will be held Sept. 27 – Oct. 5, 2024 in communities across the country. The new initiative leverages arts, culture, and creativity to emphasize the need for a just, multiracial democracy.

COLORLINES, published by Race Forward, today announced the release of Women Transcend, a multimedia storytelling initiative and film produced in collaboration with formerly incarcerated Black women activists. The central piece of this multimedia project is a documentary feature that follows activists Cheryl Wilkins, Ivy Mathis, and Mama Gloria Williams, showcasing their work to uplift other women as well as their advocacy for clemency and reentry programs. Through the film and accompanying content, Women Transcend challenges us to reflect on how we view, and inadvertently give our consent, to systems of perpetual punishment and isolation.

Race Forward today announced that its founder, Dr. Gary Delgado, a nationally recognized author, organizer, researcher, and activist on issues of race and social justice, will return to the organization as a senior fellow. In this role, Delgado will advance health equity in the treatment, prevention, and discussion of aphasia. Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. It can occur suddenly after a stroke or head injury, or develop overtime as a side effect to a brain tumor or other health condition.