Equity At Work Webinar Series

Public statements in support of Black lives often come quickly in moments of crisis, protest, or social reckoning. Corporations release solidarity statements, institutions announce equity initiatives, and leaders affirm their commitment to racial justice. Yet when it comes time to make real financial decisions, those commitments are frequently the first to be scaled back, delayed, or eliminated altogether. This session examines how budgets reveal true values, and how funding choices shape the everyday realities of Black communities.

We will explore how disinvestment in critical areas such as public education, healthcare, housing, workforce development, and community services continues to widen racial inequities. When equity is framed as “optional” rather than essential, Black people bear the brunt of austerity measures, resource cuts, and shifting priorities. Participants will consider how this pattern reinforces structural inequality while allowing institutions to maintain an image of progress without meaningful accountability.

This conversation will also confront the uncomfortable truth that many decision-makers are willing to champion Black lives in theory but resist changes that disrupt power, profit, or comfort in practice. What happens when supporting Black communities requires redistributing resources, changing policies, or challenging entrenched systems? And what does it mean when those in leadership choose financial stability over racial justice?

Ultimately, this session invites participants to rethink what authentic commitment to Black lives looks like in action. We will discuss strategies for embedding equity into budgeting processes, holding institutions accountable, and ensuring that racial justice is not treated as a trend but as a sustained investment in Black people, communities, and futures.