Centering Community in Policymaking

Community can be defined in infinite ways. In our personal lives, we’re part of geographic communities, cultural communities, faith communities, communities of  people who share values about a certain issue — and so many others. Community does not have a single definition. It must be defined by the people and by the purpose of any specific effort to create change through collective action.   

In this policy framework, we define community as the Black, Indigenous and people of color communities that are most impacted by the structural harms of white supremacy and exploitation based on race and ethnicity. 

In our collaboration with organizers, leaders and advocates to update and refine this framework, we saw diverse definitions of community. For their policy effort related to landlord accountability, African Career, Education and Resource Inc (ACER) defined community as people of African heritage who are renters in Brooklyn Park. For their work around improving sexual education in schools, Minnesota Youth Collective defined community as young people — prioritizing Black, brown and queer folks. For the Community Equity Program, community was defined as BIPOC Minnesotans who are interested in learning more about policymaking at the state capitol. 

We seek to be  specific in defining community in policymaking spaces because, too often, marginalized groups are seen as monoliths. We know that our identities and our communities are diverse and change with time. Centering communities in policymaking requires thoughtfulness and intention to ensure the most-impacted people are identifying, informing and leading any effort. 

Policies shape our daily lives in profound ways. From state budgets that fund or neglect our neighborhoods to requirements for public services that protect or undermine our basic human needs, policies guide decisions for the collective — and play a central role in determining the opportunities we have and barriers we face to creating our own realities. 

At Voices for Racial Justice (VRJ), we envision a Minnesota where we — BIPOC communities and allies — use policy as a tool of liberation and resistance to end systems of oppression and build a more equitable future for all. This includes transforming policy practices and processes used by governments, community institutions and the private sector.

Policymaking spaces are all around us: at city halls and the state capitol, in school boards and government agencies, in community institutions and private corporations, and so many others. Making policy can look many ways, as well, including:    

Identifying, developing and passing new policies that advance racial justice

Repealing or changing harmful policies that perpetuate racial injustice

Evaluating and updating policies that aim to advance racial justice to ensure they are having the intended impact on the most-impacted communities

To serve the interests of those who profit from white supremacy and exploitation based on race, policymaking spaces have intentionally excluded the most-impacted communities for generations. Processes have been designed for people with very limited types of knowledge, very specific ways of communicating and, in many cases, the ability to respond to very rapid timelines. In this way, policymaking systems and policies themselves are purposely challenging to understand and feel distant from our daily lives.  

In our work with the Centering Community in Policymaking (CCP) table, we heard again and again how policymaking spaces are not just unwelcoming but actively harmful for BIPOC communities. The feelings organizers and advocates most associated with experiences at the state capitol, for instance, were primarily negative: frustrated, overwhelmed, tokenized, confused, othered. On the other hand, their experiences working with the community towards policy solutions were dramatically different: inspired, proud, hopeful, curious, smart. 

We acknowledge the tension in trying to bring communities into policymaking processes that do not recognize or honor their dignity, expertise and life experiences. This framework intends to both center community in current policymaking processes and also reimagine and remake those spaces so they are catalysts for our wellbeing, happiness and liberation. 

Transforming policymaking spaces and securing a future centered on solidarity and care will invite different actions from all of us who believe in racial justice. Because of our work and our relationships, VRJ developed this framework with several key audiences in mind. Our hope is that these audiences will find it useful in achieving the following goals:  

Organizers and Advocates

• Are more intentional and impactful in authentically engaging impacted communities

• Are better equipped to work with each other on policy agendas and shared priorities

• Are able to create bolder, stronger policies for racial justice that are carefully considered and grounded in community leadership

• Develop the skills and relationships to support the growth of their movements over the long term to advance sustainable change

• Feel confident to share the CCP Framework with other organizers, community members, and legislators

Elected Officials and Institutional Leaders 

• Actively name and center racial justice as a priority in all policy areas

• Craft policies that have more nuanced analysis and impacts on BIPOC communities

• Cultivate long-term relationships with both organizers and community members to assess policy impacts and improve outcomes

• Work directly with BIPOC communities

Other Community Members 

• Feel more powerful in policymaking spaces that are challenging and isolating

• Feel ownership in efforts to advance racial justice in meaningful, sustained ways

• Have a deeper influence on policy advocacy and gain a greater sense of confidence and agency in policymaking spaces

• Can easily see, feel, and articulate direct impact  in their lives based on policy changes

Researchers, Evaluators and Implementers

• Recognize their role in making sure policies are implemented in ways that have the intended results for the most-impacted communities

• Continue to engage with most-impacted communities to evaluate and update the policy over time so it can be improved and evolve with community realities

But this is far from a complete list. If you are committed to racial justice and engaged in policymaking in any way, we hope this framework will be useful to you, too!