Community Engagement Activation Program

With each virtual or in-person house meeting and every panel presentation RepGen does, more people become aware of reparations, their own and others’ stories of systemic racism in the US, and are ready to speak and act to advance reparations. The vast majority of attendees report “a little” to “much more” understanding of and support for reparations. RepGen co-hosts intentionally affirm “group agreements” at the start to create an open co-learning environment.

That’s one reason an in-person house meeting in Oakland, CA engaged and moved all twelve attendees who ranged from “reparations curious” to “reparations activated.” All of us need to navigate our next individual and community level steps for learning, healing, and effectively advancing reparations. For instance, at a recent RepGen virtual house meeting, three members of an Indiana-based task force who learned about the RepGen reparations in action approach were inspired by the HORT Program model and exchanged ideas, challenges, and resources with other attendees from New Hampshire, Georgia, and California. 

RepGen also co-creates with groups like the Rossmoor Advocates for Diversity and African Americans & Friends to plan events and share resources that meet their unique community interests and needs. The chance to co-plan is mutually beneficial. In this case, it allowed RepGen to share our story and approach, lift up the Racial Wealth Gap Learning Simulation, and collect relevant feedback on the event from attendees. All of these also helped guide some of the Rossmoor leaders’ next steps.