RACIAL EQUITY STATEMENT

At Everyday Arts, we acknowledge that systemic, institutional, and individual racisms have been bound into the structures of American society, permeating the fields of arts and education alike. With a critical understanding of the ways in which both special education and the arts have historically contributed to racial inequities, we also believe that they can represent spaces of profound anti-oppressive possibility.

By bringing an equity-minded lens to our work, we affirm our commitment to equity in service of, and in solidarity with, communities who have been most impacted by oppressive systems. To us, equity means that “one size fits none”: every individual brings their complete identity to each experience, and our work at the nexus of special education and the arts is designed to provide diverse access points and inclusivity for all. We recognize that “ability equity” and “racial equity” are interconnected projects, and advocacy for justice in either case can offer a mutually supportive framework for the other. Or, in the words of Maya Angelou, “No one of us can be free until everybody is free.”

Everyday Arts prioritizes partnering with communities with barriers to access, and we are committed to maintaining this practice moving forward. We are also dedicated to uplifting the vision and leadership of women of color within our organization, and continuing to develop and grow our racial justice competencies both individually and as an organization. Finally, we are devoted to processes of accountability and transformative healing, bringing humility and a growth mindset to the continuous project of connecting “equity talk” with “equity walk.”