Free Center stands for Community. We stand for equity and liberation. Which means—WE STAND AGAINST RACISM.

Join us and YWCA USA to raise awareness of the negative impact on our community of all the forms of racism. Separation and isolation empower racism. They distance us from our shared power. Let’s come together—especially now, when it’s harder on Black people and People of Color.  This year, let’s get involved, stay engaged, and bend the arc of justice steadily toward equity.

FIRE IT UP.

The fight against racism needs your passion. Here are some ways you can bring your A-Game to our community by standing strong with an open heart and the belief that once the flame of change rises up, it’s unstoppable.

Download the YWCA’s Social Justice Glossary.

The language of equity is filled with great insights to help you frame your commitment to anti-racism. We use these terms all the time at Free Center and each time we look at these definitions, our eyes open wider.   LEARN

Free Center will be hosting a free video conference on anti-racism. Let us know if you’d like details when they are ready.   ACTION

VOTE! And hold your leaders accountable.

An entire system of policies and practices at all levels of government perpetuates racism by design. It strips away power and cuts off the voice of change by creating a foundation for the status quo. Voting matters! Here are a few things you can do to ensure the vote of Black people and People of Color are counted.

SUPPORT VOTE BY MAIL:

People across the country face voter suppression laws that make it harder to have fair representation. It’s going to be particularly true during an election on the heels of Covid-19. Taking action in support of Vote By Mail legislation is a big deal in the fight against racism.

LEARN  /  ACTION

FIGHT GERRYMANDERING:

Redrawing state voting districts is a weapon of racism. It diffuses votes that favor equity policies. It throws water on the fire and that makes us mad because it’s a sneaky trick hiding behind the posture of fairness.

LEARN  /  ACTION

GET READY TO VOTE:

Let’s make sure all of your paperwork is set so your voting experience can be as smooth as possible. These are great sites to share with your family, friends, and neighbors. Let’s make sure folks who stand against racism get to vote in the Fall!

LEARN  /  ACTION

FEED THE FIRE.

The stand against racism needs resources in our communities so we have the knowledge and energy to organize ourselves. It requires time—and time is money. Here are some actions we can all take to increase the funds that enter our communities.

Let’s get some things cleared up about the Census. Controversies over the questions on the form were meant to make Black people and People of Color afraid to fill out the Census. One of the big fears is around undocumented status. Even some Green Card holders and Naturalized Citizens are feeling at risk. Here’s what the census asks:

  • You name
  • Your phone number
  • Your age and birthday
  • Your gender
  • Your race and ethnicity
  • The number of people in your household
  • Your relation to those in your household
  • The type of housing you’re living in

The US Census Bureau is the only group with access to your data and they keep it confidential and secure. ICE, the IRS, and the Housing Authority DO NOT have access to your information.

Your Census response is used to draw district lines in Connecticut—it’s one way to fight Gerrymandering. Census responses determine how many representatives Connecticut sends to Congress. The more representatives we have the more power we have. The Census also determines how many votes we get in the electoral college. This is how we influence the outcome of the Presidential election. That’s a lot of power for 5 minutes of your time!

As a result of the last Census, Connecticut residents benefited from $10.7 billion in Federal funding for programs and services. Here are some services directly influenced by the Census:

  • Medicaid and Medicare
  • CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
  • SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
  • TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
  • Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
  • Highway Planning and Construction
  • Federal Pell Grants

All of these programs are tied to our ability to stand against racism. That’s Power in numbers. Power!

LEARN  /  ACTION

FAN THE FLAME.

Our community is lucky to have grassroots and established groups contributing know-how and passion in the stand against racism. They represent great opportunities to get involved and make a difference. Contribute to the steady growth of anti-racism actions by visiting these groups, learning about their work, and participating in some meaningful change.

In a time of crisis that is disproportionately affecting Black people and People of Color, here are some opportunities to be active in our community and help build resiliency:

Civic engagement and anti-racist work go beyond filling out the Census and voting, especially in this time of social distancing when it’s common to feel separated from Community. The organizations below are taking direct action right now to help those in Hartford and the state of Connecticut. Give what you’re able and share with those you know who are in need:

DO YOU KNOW organizations that should be on our list? LET US KNOW:

PERSPECTIVES.

We ask leaders in our community one question: what is the most useful advice you want to share with folks who are joining us in the stand against racism? Their answers are revelations—often poignant, always inspiring, and rooted in a shared resiliency that is the soul and the power of our community.

“For me, it is no longer a time for theories or knowing the right words about racism and misogyny. Naming oppression does not necessarily equal the ability to heal from it. What I imagine now is a community practice of embodiment. How do we live our anti-racism by interrogating our internalized racist thoughts? How do we live our stated care for femmes of color by acknowledging our internalized misogyny? As we work to confront the outside forces of racism, the work to grieve the ramifications of internalized white supremacy and misogyny in our relationships is vital. There is nothing academic we can learn about oppression, racism and survival that we do not know or have not on some level lived. At this point, it is up to us to collect our shared history, shared care, and the legacy of brilliance to make a future worth having together.”

Sarana Nia Beik
Hartford raised, mama of three, herbalist, facilitator, core member of Mutual Aid Hartford and Director of Youth Program Development at RE-Center. Find out more about Hartford’s mutual aid network soon at mutualaidhartford.org!

“Racism is real. It can’t be educated out of existence—it needs to be loved out of existence. Our act of loving defiance in the face of racism is to continue showing up and challenging members of our communities who believe we all need to look, smell, and act alike.

Living in community means we are responsible to ourselves and others. It calls for humility and bravery as we engage with those we disagree with while sharing an otherwise similar world view with them. The tensions we so often run from are the gifts that allow us to grow together. It’s time to stop nicely agreeing to disagree. It’s time to confront with the intent of finding our shared humanity.”

Kamora Herrington
Hartford resident, long time activist, founder of Kamora’s Cultural Corner

“Reminders and revelations of racism and health inequality roll out from the media daily during this pandemic. The timing to discuss and rectify is orchestrated and political, thus, raising only anxiety and stress levels in the vulnerable population that already knew the disparity. Numbers and percentages of those suffering most in this pandemic basically prove structural racism kills people disproportionately. The marginalized are holding a large portion of society together. Racism is about maintaining wealth, power, and control.”

Nzima Hutchings
Visionary & founder of the Every Kinda Lady Co. & Hartford’s L.I.T.,  author, poet, expressive writing coach, community advocate in Hartford

“As we stand against racism let us remember that we need relational power. We cannot change anything unless we have deep relationships. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, there can be no deep disappointment where there is not deep love.”

Reverend AJ Johnson
Hartford organizer with the Center for Leadership and Justice

“Being represented is valuable—casting your vote is an exercise of power and occupying space is priceless.

As a person of Black American and Caribbean descent, seeking ways to continue cultivating my community, both physical and metaphysical is the most important. In the Sprite of the SANKOFA, it is at my CORE to honor those who have paved the way, to always remember where I began and to enjoy the journey I’m on. Use whatever it takes to create change! ”

David Elliott Waterman
Hartford resident, bicultural product of two migrant farm workers, social worker (LMSW), artist, photographer, creator, and curator/organizer PRIDE Community Art Exhibit at Free Center ( featuring the work of black, queer artists from the community), CORE Team Member and Creator of Resistance with Kamora’s Cultural Corner.

This campaign is made possible through support from the Graustein Memorial Fund and our partnership with CO:LAB—organizations dedicated to supporting community and elevating those working toward social impact and equity.