Charting the Course to Racial Equity

In keeping with our mission of supporting racial equity and economic mobility in our region, Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) draws upon the knowledge of nationally recognized experts such as Dr. Manuel Pastor. He recently delivered an inspiring presentationData and Narrative for Change: How to Put Equity at the Table, to our governing board and staff.

Pastor, a Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies and Ethnicity at the University of Southern California, shared figures on the costs of inequality to economic growth woven through a compelling, humor-laced narrative detailing what we need to do to shape the optimal future for our country and our region.

Pastor has authored many books on racial and economic equity, including “State of Resistance: What California’s Dizzying Descent and Remarkable Resurgence Mean for America’s Future”; “Equity, Growth, and Community: What the Nation Can Learn from America’s Metro Areas”; and “Just Growth: Inclusion and Prosperity in America’s Metropolitan Regions.”

Among Pastor’s take-away points:

  • The ethnic transformation of the United States — with our population becoming majority people of color by mid-century — provides opportunities that we need to address now.
  • There’s racial “generation gap” between older adults and the much more diverse younger generation. That needs to be addressed, he said, with regular dialogues about race and racial equity to normalize the conversation and make it key to the strategy of change. The ratio of older adults to young people will increase over the next 30 years, and racial inclusion and income equality are essential to sustain economic growth.
  • To drive that change, we need to provide the common ground of data and dialogue to inform cross-sector collaboration and determination.

Watch a video of Manuel Pastor’s presentation.