Housing and schools are the two areas of Civil Rights that we have made the least progress, because they're the two areas that are most intimately tied together.”

Nikole Hannah-Jones, Author of "The 1619 Project"
On May 3rd, Nikole Hannah-Jones, author of The 1619 Project and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, took the stage alongside University of Maryland's Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill (who will be stepping down soon after over 30 years) to discuss truth, history, and the impact of The 1619 Project.

HAND was pleased to collaborate with the University of Maryland College of Arts and Humanities and the Colvin Institute of Real Estate Development in presenting this much-needed conversation because it aligns with our continued work of centering racial equity in all of our activities. We would like to thank our partners and the guest speakers for treating our guests to a powerful dialogue.

The 1619 Project is an American origin story that doesn’t begin with the pilgrims or the Declaration of Independence. The project instead explores the legacy of slavery starting from the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia. This moving conversation between two groundbreaking leaders explored several subjects including how Nikole's research can be leveraged to create more equitable outcomes in our communities. One of the most moving takeaways from the discussion was when Nikole stated: 

“We [called the project] a new origin story, not the new origin story for a reason. There could never be one, there should never be one, especially in a multiracial society like we live in. You could certainly tell the story of America through Indigenous people, and it would tell you a very different side and give you a different depth. You could tell it through women, through the LGBTQ+ community. We have to question the histories we’ve been taught: Who do they serve and who do they leave out?"

If you haven't read The 1619 Project, we will leave you with Nikole's final words on her work:

“If you read the project, you can’t see your country the same way. And that’s a powerful thing.”
It's Time to Move from Understanding to Action!
Today, we are releasing our 2022 racial equity tool kit to mark the conclusion of our racial equity series titled Racism Can't Live Here! The tool kit is a resource guide filled with learnings from this year's four-part learning series designed to assist our members in building equity in access to housing, and finding innovative solutions that can help tear down or redevelop programs in support of creating an anti-racist region. We are proud of this year's series and want to thank our facilitators (Crystal Walker & Rachel Adams) for enhancing each session by leading engaging group discussions; our guest speakers (United Way of Central Maryland’s 30/30 Experience, Dr. Lawrence Brown, Dr. Angie Luvara & Jeff Chang) for their thought-provoking sessions that drilled down on plans of disrupting racism and inequities within housing; and the program sponsor Wells Fargo for their support in actualizing this important work! If you weren't able to join our racial equity journey over the past few months we encourage you to check out the tool kit below!
Check out brief summaries and highlights from each session below!
30/30 Experience
Featuring United Way of Central Maryland
January 2022
This session revealed why so many hardworking people can’t make ends meet. Attendees participated in an immersive experience where they assumed the identity of a low-wage earner with a family and made 30 decisions over 30 days—decisions that affected them and their household. 
Attendee Feedback
"This session was a visceral reminder of why we do the work that we do and why larger policies and systems need to be reformed to give families a real chance at economic mobility and well-being."
Redlining and “Urban Renewal” Projects: The Long Legacy of Racial Residential Segregation in the United States
Featuring Dr. Angie Luvara
March 2022 
Utilizing Critical Race Theory as a framework, in this session, we traced the long legacy of redlining and examined other forms of racial housing injustice such as some “urban renewal” projects as well as blockbusting and steering. We learned how all of these practices have created our current issues surrounding racial residential segregation. 
Dr. Angie Luvara
Assistant Sociology Professor
Frostburg State University


On how we can use critical race theory as a lens to review our organization's decisions:
"So my suggestion would be to really dig into what critical race theory really is and then to think about the ways that your institutions might not be overtly talking about race, but covertly have a racist outcome."
Making Racial Equity a Reality in America’s Hypersegregated Cities
Featuring Dr. Lawrence Brown
February 2022
This program started with a rapid overview of the legacies of urban apartheid in Richmond, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Dr. Lawrence Brown concluded this session with a discussion about what he believes are the five steps that are needed to make racial equity a reality in housing, neighborhoods, and cities.
Dr. Lawrence Brown
Equity Scientist, Urban Afrofuturist, & Author of The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America

On solutions to undo the damage inflicted on black communities:
"There's no silver bullet, but there are plenty of solutions. We just have to organize and make abolition democracy a reality…we cannot make black lives matter, unless we make black neighborhoods matter."
We Gon’ Be Alright – Race and Resegregation in Today’s America
Featuring Jeff Chang
April 2022 
After so much unrest and tragedy across the nation in this final session, Jeff Chang, author of We Gon’ Be Alright, explored thoughts on how our communities can heal.
Jeff Chang
Senior Advisor
Race Forward



On why segregation matters:
"These aren't matters of the past, segregation still matters! We know that it matters because it plays a significant role in the quality of one's education, one's access to food, one's ability to build wealth, how long one lives, and whether one will have anything to pass on."
Looking for more resources on all things racial equity?
Stop by our website for a compilation of helpful materials!
Privacy Matters.
Have you received phishing email messages offering to sell the attendees list for HAND’s Annual Meeting & Housing Expo?

Please know that HAND is not in any way affiliated with the sender(s) of these communications. We encourage you to disregard any messages of this kind and to check your email settings to ensure that those types of messages are blocked moving forward. Also, don’t hesitate to forward any similar phishing email to the HAND team. Visit our website to see HAND's statements on your privacy and an example of a phishing email that was sent to us. We take your privacy very seriously and would not compromise our membership data under any circumstances.