Our Commitment to Racial Justice

As an engaged university center, we learn from families and communities, and with them, we create and inform practice, policy, and knowledge.   

The COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd and too many other Black people has laid bare the deeply rooted racial disparities in our country. Our hearts break for the families and communities who face violence and injustice as a normal part of their lives, many of whom are our own families and communities. As we critically reflect on our vision to collectively build safe, healthy, and productive families and communities, we re-commit ourselves to the work of justice, equity, and antiracism and how it contributes to our research, practice and policy development. 

We remain committed, not just in words but also in action. Internally, we are working to improve diversity and inclusion at the Center and are dedicated to investing our money and time intentionally. We will center cultural humility and accountability in our work with our community partners and projects dedicated to child welfare, family leadership, bail reform, and sustainable community engagement, including the Wake Community-University Partnership (WakeCUP). We will continue to learn from our families, community partners, staff, students, faculty, and researchers. In the coming weeks, we will share more about this investment.