By Britt Hayes, Chair of BCYF Racial Equity Committee
The BCYF Racial Equity Audit Committee attended the Facing Race Conference, the nation’s largest multiracial, intergenerational racial justice conference, to ensure they were educated by leading experts on how to approach and execute this required audit most effectively. Learnings from the conference have enhanced the attendee’s racial equity initiatives, and also provided the grantees with capacity-building knowledge that continues to be shared throughout their organizations in the continued commitment to serving the youth of Baltimore.
This past November, the Baltimore Children & Youth Fund (BCYF) Racial Equity Committee had the honor of attending the Facing Race Conference, the nation’s largest multiracial gathering on racial justice, hosted by Race Forward. As a committee dedicated to ensuring that BCYF’s policies, practices, and strategies actively promote fairness and justice, this experience was just the first step in our ongoing journey toward racial equity here in Baltimore.
Building the Framework: Why It Matters!
BCYF provides Baltimore City children and youth with exposure and access to programs and activities focused on advancing their ability to learn, thrive, and lead in their communities and beyond. Our Racial Equity Committee plays a crucial role in making this vision a reality by participating in BCYF’s biennial Racial Equity Audit and developing recommendations that align our work with the needs of our community. The Facing Race Conference provided us with valuable insights, tools, and connections to bring back to Baltimore and ensure our efforts remain at the forefront of the racial justice movement.
The theme for this year’s conference was “Our Power, Our Solutions,” highlighting the power we can build when our communities unite. This powerful message leads me to one of the two key takeaways from my experience at the Facing Race conference:
- Centering Community-Led Solutions
One of my biggest takeaways from Facing Race was the power of community-driven change. Across the country, more and more cities are recognizing that sustainable racial equity policies must be shaped by the very people most impacted by systemic injustices. In Baltimore, we are doubling down on this commitment by ensuring that youth, families, and grassroots leaders play an active role in shaping BCYF’s funding priorities and programmatic strategies. - Aligning with Baltimore’s Future
Our country is at a pivotal moment in its fight for racial justice – and so is our city! The policies and practices we implement today will shape Baltimore’s future, and we have the opportunity to set a new standard for how institutions operate. Together, our learnings from Facing Race will help BCYF develop policies that not only address current disparities but also proactively tear down barriers that have historically marginalized Black and brown communities throughout Baltimore City. - Turning Insight into Action: Our Commitment to BCYF and Baltimore’s Children and Youth
Our time at the Facing Race conference reinforced the importance of strengthening BCYF’s Racial Equity Audit process. We remain committed to creating actionable recommendations that shape BCYF’s grantmaking, community partnerships, and operational practices, drawing from the best practices we’ve learned. We also commit to elevating the voices of young people and community leaders in decision-making processes, ensuring that racial equity is not just a guiding principle but a lived practice in all that we do.
The BCYF Racial Equity Committee, Board, and Staff believe that our work serves as a model for how institutions in Baltimore—and beyond—can truly center racial equity in everything they do. And this is just the beginning. We are deeply grateful to BCYF and the Facing Race conference for inspiring us to lean into the power of organizing, transforming institutions, and shaping narratives. With this momentum, we remain committed to building a more just, equitable, and thriving Baltimore for all.
