Check out our "Raising Black Voices" series, featuring residents of Hendricks County!

Racial concerns in Hendricks County need to be addressed. 

The Alliance will serve as an advocate, convener, and leader for our community to bring about education and change. To kick-start the process, we invited individuals in leadership roles across the county to join us to discuss and commit to three topics:
  • Education on racism and anti-racism
  • Raising black voices
  • Growing community-police accountability

From the initial topics, two County Action Teams have emerged:
  1. Giving Equity a Voice
  2. Growing Community-Police Accountability

​Each of these two teams are being led by individuals who will engage additional organizations, create space for community input, seek out resources, create plans, and take action towards their purpose.
Why do we need to address racial issues in Hendricks County?

Racism exists in Hendricks County even if we don't want to admit it. Without addressing the issue, we allow it to continue. We need to actively address racial issues to lead a change.

Diversity.

Diversity is the presence of difference within a setting. For us, the setting is Hendricks County or our individual communities; the difference is an identity (race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.). A person is not diverse. They are unique. They bring diversity to the group. Diversity is about a collecttive.

Inclusion.

Inclusion has to do with people with different identities feeling and/or being valued, leveraged and welcome within a setting. Inclusion is not a natural consequence of diversity.
​"Diversity is being asked to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance."

Equity.

Equity is an approach that ensures everyone has access to the same opportunities. Equity recognizes that we don't start from the same place because barriers and advantages exist. It is a process that acknowledges uneven starting places and seeks to correct the imbalance.
Diversity and inclusion are both outcomes. Equity is a process a community engages in to ensure people with marginalized identities have the opportunity to grow, contribute, and develop.
*adapted from Michael R. Twyman, Ph.D.

County Action Teams

Giving Equity a Voice

 Ideas:
  • Increase the sharing of perspectives and the amplification of the voices of people of color in Hendricks County, including both our community and organizational leadership.
  • Create opportunities for people of all races to engage in learning about race, racism, and anti-racism to create both personal and community actions.

​Current focuses: Share video stories of black residents and leaders in Hendricks County. Support education opportunities around racism, anti-racism, and bias.

Growing Community-Police Accountability

Idea: Increase understanding of responsibilities and roles of our community, community leaders, and law enforcement to create opportunities for transparency and change that support the best possible lives for everyone in Hendricks County.

Current focus:
Seeking input from the community via survey and in-person meetings. From this information-gathering, the group seeks to create strategies to build unity, trust, accountability, and transparency.
Want to join one of our County Action Teams?
Email hendricksalliance@yahoo.com and let us know!