Race, Equity & Inclusion Resources

If you have a resource you think should be included, please email it to memberservices@ccm-ct.org.
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A Note from CCM back to top
America is confronted once again by the disturbing reality that deep systemic racism persists throughout our society and economy. The murder of George Floyd has triggered anger, anguish and unrest, igniting calls for change that have swept Connecticut and the nation.
The challenge of this moment invites Connecticut municipal leaders and organizations to engage with their communities on racial equity and to move forward making smart policy decisions that can eliminate racial inequities in all government policies, practices and procedures. We cannot let this moment pass without moving forward.
This page will feature trainings, studies and articles to help Connecticut towns and cities start the process for deeper examinations of bias, how to recognize such bias and begin the process to weed it out of town halls and communities.
CCM is excited to be working with the National League of Cities and its Race, Equity And Leadership (REAL) team to determine how best we organize a more intentional strategy to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of municipal leaders across our organizations, who are interested in eliminating racial disparities, healing racial tension and building more equitable communities.
The initiative will help CCM members to engage with their communities on racial equity and to move forward making smart policy decisions that can ensure fairness and eliminate racial inequities in government policies, practices and procedures.
This initiative is a part of what will be CCM’s sustained engagement on inclusion, which will consist of, among other things, periodic free trainings for CCM-member municipal officials, including at CCM’s annual conventions; CCM staff development trainings, and access to consultants for community trainings/conversations.
CCM urges you to have long-needed, tough conversations and take substantial actions to help make Connecticut’s towns and cities the strong example for the nation they have the potential to be.
CCM's Racial Equity Toolkit back to top
Podcast - Leon Andrews of NLC's Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) back to top
On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Leon Andrews, Director of NLC's Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) inititiave, joined our podcast, The Municipal Voice, to discuss what equity really means and the role towns and cities play.
Bias Resources back to top

Cornell University Graduate School - Implicit Bias Resources
Responding to Microaggressions and Bias - This document contains conversation starters and responses to help one address and educate others
University of California, Los Angeles Equity, Diversity and Inclusion - Implicit Bias
Health & Wellness Resources back to top

DataHaven’s Report: Towards Health Equity in Connecticut: The Role of Social Inequality and the Impact of COVID-19 “A comprehensive new report that summarizes five broad social determinants of health and discusses how various groups of people are affected by their opportunities in each category. Each section begins with general comparisons of many groups across several indicators, and ends with an example of how those social circumstances relate to a specific health outcome.”
CT Mirror: ‘State of Wellbeing’ survey quantifies racial inequities in both health and economy
NLC: Why Local Leaders Are Declaring Racism A Public Health Crisis
Housing & Zoning Resources back to top

Planning for Affordability in Connecticut - Affordable Housing Plan and Process Guidebook
NLC: Embedding Racial Equity in Housing
CT News Junkie Interview: Old Saybrook Using Deed-restricted Housing to Reduce Economic Disparities
Connecticut Voices for Children Report - Separate & Unequal: The Interactive Effects on Housing and Education Policies on School Segregation in Connecticut "This report examines how residential segregation in Connecticut—and the subsequent educational segregation—persists due to ongoing racial discrimination, current town zoning ordinances, and school district boundaries. We also explore the role local zoning commissions and boards of education play in the continued segregation of Connecticut’s school districts. Our goal with this report is to shed light on the ways housing and education intersect to impede and improve opportunity for and investment in Black and Latinx communities. We hope this report generates reflection, conversation, and action to make Connecticut a more equitable state for all our children and families."
Steady Habits: Homeownership matters. So why are so many in CT left behind?
Leadership Resources back to top

Brookings Institute - How We Rise - Mayors and governors: This is how you tackle racism
Catalyst - Inclusive Leadership: The View From Six Countries
Deloitte University Press: The six signature traits of inclusive leadership
ELGL: Diversity Dashboard - The ELGL Diversity Dashboard is the first ever national data collection on the gender, race, age, and veteran status of local government employees. In 2018 & 2019, the survey collected this information for chief administrative officers and assistant chief administrative officers. In 2020, the survey expanded to include all local government employees.
ELGL: Equity & Justice Resources - These resources have been crowdsourced by ELGL members.
Government Alliance on Race Equity: Advancing Racial Equity and Transforming Government
Harvard Business Review: Adapt Your D&I Efforts to the Reality of the Crisis
Harvard Business Review: How to Be an Inclusive Leader Through a Crisis
Harvard Business Review: The Key to Inclusive Leadership
ICMA: 7 Ways City Leaders Can Address Racial Inequities
ICMA: 6 Ways to Help Identify Gender and Minority Wage Gap Issues
ICMA: Manage This: Promote Inclusivity Through Better Job Descriptions
National League of Cities: COVID-19 Local Response Principles
A Procurement Path to Equity - Strategies for Government and the Business Ecosystem
Public Safety Resources back to top

Campaign Zero: Police Use of Force Policy Analysis
The Opportunity Agenda: Creating Fair and Effective Policing Practices
Engaging Leaders Voices: New Visions of Public Safety
Bloomberg Cities: 6 strategies to recruit a stronger and more diverse police force
Diversity in Police Recruiting—What Draws Members of Racial Minority Groups?
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Advancing Diversity in Law Enforcement
Police Chief Magazine: Creating a Multicultural Law Enforcement Agency: An Intentional Priority
Toolkits & Places to Start Resources back to top

Government Alliance on Race Equity: Racial Equity Toolkit
Grassroots Policy Project - Race, Power and Policy: Dismantling Structural Racism workbook
ICMA Equity and Inclusivity Toolkit
Portland (Oregon) Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) Five-Year Racial Equity Plan
National Museum of African American History & Culture: Talking About Race
NLC and Other State Leagues Resources back to top

Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) back to top

Books back to top

Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt
Blackballed: The Black Vote and U.S. Democracy by Darryl Pinckney
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
How to Kill a City: Gentrification, Inequality, and the Fight for the Neighborhood by Peter Moskowitz
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
A Terrible Thing To Waste: Environmental Racism And Its Assault On The American Mind by Harriet A. Washington
White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo