Reorganizing for the Fight That’s Here
When the federal government dismantled its racial equity infrastructure in early 2025, Race Forward didn’t try to rebuild what was lost in Washington. It redirected—deliberately, strategically—toward the places where the work could go deeper.
Glenn Harris, Race Forward’s president, said: “The conditions are hard. The work is essential. We are not slowing down.”
The organization sunsetted its Federal Initiative to Govern for Racial Equity program and stood up a new Place, Policy, and Power department. This move integrated its federal work into a single strategy for community-led systemic change and placed an emphasis on policy and democratic governance across sectors such as housing justice and environmental justice.
“The conditions are hard. The work is essential. We are not slowing down.”
Glenn Harris, Race Forward Project Manager
The demand confirmed the decision. When Race Forward opened applications for its retooled Policy Innovation Lab—now structured around coalitions rather than individual organizations—50 coalitions applied. The selected coalitions, led by Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and people of color communities in Idaho, Florida, New York and New Mexico represent more than 20 organizations now building shared power to advance climate and racial justice together with tools, training, subgrants, and coaching through 2026.
Meanwhile, the Government Alliance on Race and Equity became a critical anchor for equity practitioners navigating unprecedented pressure. Race Forward invested in regional convenings, peer learning infrastructure, and targeted legal and strategic guidance through a new Racial Equity Legal Initiative—giving practitioners both clarity and community at a moment when many were working in isolation.
The impact of Race Forward’s work is showing up in specific places. On housing, Race Forward’s Housing and Land Justice Initiative supported advocacy behind a $135 million housing fund in Chicago, $24 million in annual anti-displacement funding in Seattle, and a permanent dedication of 2 percent of New Orleans’ city budget to affordable housing.
And when the federal government tried to compel states to certify that their schools didn’t promote diversity or equity—threatening all federal funding as leverage—more than half of states declined. Federal courts ultimately found the letter unenforceable. Race Forward’s HEAL Together and Public School Strong initiatives were central to that outcome.
“The evidence of impact is showing up in communities across the country, where civil servants and community leaders are working together and armed with a racial equity analysis, to solve real problems for real people” said Glenn Harris, Race Forward’s president.
Race Forward has invested heavily in narrative strategy, hosting a first-of-its-kind Just Narrative for Multiracial Solidarity convening and launched a Weavers Lab for Solidarity Narratives in 2025. The lab consists of 16 cohort members—arts organizations, government agencies, and community groups from across the country. Each cohort member is developing projects for building solidarity narratives necessary for systems change. The cohort will culminate at the Facing Race conference in Raleigh in the fall of 2026.
“The evidence of impact is showing up in communities across the country, where civil servants and community leaders are working together and armed with a racial equity analysis, to solve real problems for real people.”
Glenn Harris, Race Forward’s president
