Washington, DC – On February 25, 2021 at 10:00 am ET, the Racial Equity Anchor Institutions and Esri will host a virtual press briefing on the launch of a new initiative to survey and track policing budgets in targeted areas around the nation. The new initiative is an effort to aid communities on their journey to better engage with and potentially reimagine what public safety looks like, neighborhood by neighborhood. Interested media can register to attend by visiting https://naacpheadquarters.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eMlWidmDQgeG1qKqHWkdDg.
2020 and 2021 presented highs and lows across the country. It has been exhausting for our nation, communities, and families to face the racialized impacts of COVID-19 and the horrendous extra-judicial killings we witnessed, including Breonna Taylor in Louisville, KY, George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN, Tony McDade in Tallahassee, FL, Dion Johnson in Phoenix, AZ, and too many others before and after them at the hands of police. In the wake of these killings, the country saw civil uprisings and protests from coast to coast, marking a sea change for race and police relations last year.
“The local law enforcement budgets we obtain will create transparency and help communities win accountability and justice,” said Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of Advancement Project National Office. “This initiative will highlight whether local budgets are aligned with local values. Communities across the country are demanding investments in what our people need and a shift in resources toward services that will make us truly free and safe; we hope this will help get us closer to that ideal.
“Many Native people live outside of tribal lands, with many of those residing in urban areas. This new initiative to better understand the size and focus of police budgets will be immensely helpful in crafting public policy that fosters safe and just communities where all Americans — including the First Americans — are treated equally,” said Fawn Sharp, President of the National Congress of American Indians.
“Understanding the landscape of local police budgets is the first step to building accountability and transparency – the foundations upon which our justice system and law enforcement bodies must be built. Working in coalition and using the power of technology, this new initiative seeks to lay the groundwork for meaningful and sustainable solutions to protect communities of color and keep them safe,” said Janet Murguia, President and CEO of UnidosUS.
“The past year has provided us with tremendous challenges on all fronts,” said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO, NAACP. “Confronting these challenges requires a deeper understanding and analysis of the issues at play so we can create tangible solutions. This new initiative to track policing budgets is a significant first step to building a country that meets the needs of its people.”
Join this special press briefing where community leaders will unveil the national survey, premiere the web hub for the project, and explain why this project is critical in advancing racial justice and reforming public safety for the greater good.
WHAT: Police Accountability – Roadmap to Reform
WHO:
- MC: Jamal Watkins, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Advancement, NAACP
- Opening Remarks – Setting the Context (15 Minutes):
- Alvin Herring, Executive Director, Faith In Action
- Janet Murguia, President and CEO, UnidosUS
- Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director, Advancement Project, National Office
- Unpacking The Survey – Our Methodology (20 Minutes):
- Clinton Johnson, Solution Architect and Lead of the Racial Equity Initiative, Esri
- Koya Brown, Solution Engineer, Transportation and Racial Equity Initiative, Esri
- Elvis Takow, Solution Engineer, Agriculture and Racial Equity Initiative, Esri
- Raynah Kamau, Partner Technical Advisor and Racial Equity Initiative, Esri
- The Moment – Why this matters now? (10 Minutes):
- Glenn Harris, President, Race Forward & Publisher of Colorlines
- Jerika Richardson, Senior Vice President, Equitable Justice and Strategic Initiatives, National Urban League
- Question and Answer (15 Minutes):
- All
WHEN: February 25, 2021, 10:00 am Eastern Time (US and Canada)
WHERE: https://naacpheadquarters.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_eMlWidmDQgeG1qKqHWkdDg.
About the Racial Equity Anchor Institutions
The Advancement Project National Office, Asian & Pacific Islander Health Forum, Demos, Faith in Action, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), National Urban League, Race Forward and UnidosUS are a collaborative of nine leading national racial equity anchor organizations supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
About Esri
Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations globally and in over 200,000 institutions in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com.