Transforming Policing Culture and Social Investment Reform

Following the tragic murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in 2020 and the resultant national outcry calling for a transformation of how we treat Black people in America, the Institute created an Anti-Racism Initiative with three broad components to address the challenges of structural and systemic racism underlying the vast racial disparities and inequities that exist in America.

• The Institute formed a strategic alliance with the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) to support transforming policing cultures in the U.S. from a warrior mentality to one of guardianship through reforms related to the 21^st Century Policing report and the Justice in Policing Act.
• The Institute identified an advocacy agenda to combat racial inequities that is focused on ensuring appropriate investment and commitment to societal systems including mental health, employment, the social economy, public education, healthcare, social work, housing, and the environment.
• The Institute developed a comprehensive approach that applies the Polarities of Democracy to organizational and systems transformation efforts at addressing police restructuring and the structural and systemic racism in the U.S.

The Institute’s Anti-Racism Initiative is lead by Institute Social Change Fellow Joseph McMillan, PhD and Institute Senior Fellow William Benet, PhD.