2023-151-E-OCOEI Dept-Marian Cheek Jackson Center for Saving and Making History-Outside Agency Funding

Browse Search

Program information Page 10 of 22 a. Please describe how you have involved the intended beneficiaries of the proposed project in the planning and design process (in 100 words or less). The Jackson Center’s “community-first” approach places our work under and accountable to the leadership of neighborhood residents. Our four Community Teams comprise 60 directly- impacted stakeholders. The Compass Group, a team of 22 neighbors from every block of the Northside Neighborhood Initiative (NNI) neighborhoods, has been meeting continuously since 2012 to lead and direct the NNI’s housing strategy and advocacy. The Community Mentor Team, a group of civil rights veterans and senior educators, guides our education programs and engages directly with students. The Community Review Board steers the representation of community histories, and the Student Leadership Group guides student engagement efforts. b. How has your organization incorporated racial equity goals into your organizational goals? All of our programs are strategies to address systemic racial inequities. The NNI has successfully turned the tide of housing displacement in Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s historically- Black neighborhoods facing gentrification, whilst our K-12 and public history programs draw upon lived experience to transform conventional narratives of racial history. Beyond addressing symptoms, the Jackson Center’s resident-led model facilitates community self- determination. In addition, within organizational structure, we maintain representation across our Board and staff that honors the wisdom of the communities served. This is reflected in our intergenerational, majority-BIPOC, and community-rooted Board and staff. c. Please fill in the below questions and provide any additional context on the racial composition of the organization and board leadership: i. % of staff that are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) : 91% ii. % of board that are BIPOC: 77% iii. % of staff that have attended racial equity training: 91% d. Please describe any additional activities your organization is doing to address racial equity. Last year, long-term, elderly Northside neighbors saw average property valuation increases of 53%, compared to nearby affluent neighborhoods’ average increases of 8%. We organized 600+ residents and partners to advocate for equitable valuations, resulting in a reduction of $9.5 million in property tax valuations for Northside residents, and the County’s creation of an unprecedented fund for property tax assistance. We also launched From the Rock Wall, a community-owned home for 200+ neighbors’ oral histories. We will continue facilitating the reclamation of local Black history by conducting oral histories with neighborhood leaders and creating new K-12 workshop curricula. DocuSign Envelope ID: 453E455B-EB8F-4C63-A66F-89BF3CD9DE40