Launching the Initiative
WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY:
Blue Star Families has launched several important efforts as initial steps of the Racial Equity Initiative
Racial Equity Committee (REC)
To root the Racial Equity Initiative in strong leadership, Blue Star Families has enlisted the support of an extraordinary group of leaders and trusted advisors — men and women who have experienced life in a military family, and who have important perspectives to share. The Racial Equity Committee comprises high-ranking military leaders from all branches, wounded warriors, caregivers, and military spouses. This committee has been meeting regularly since this summer. Their perspectives, guidance, and governance are a bedrock of this initiative.

Collaborative Partners
We have announced an initial group of collaborative partners — organizations that are dedicated to the goals of this initiative and are invested in its success. These partners are providing not only the needed financial sponsorship to make this work possible, but also additional resources and leadership training in direct operational support of the five impact areas. Our growing list of nonprofit partners will also contribute to the training and leadership development programs and serve as potential hiring organizations for leaders who will graduate from these programs.

How It Works
The REI’s Five Impact Areas:
Conducting research via focus groups, applying new lenses to prior surveys, and launching new surveys to further understand the unique experiences of military families of color. We will then pair these findings with data-driven policy recommendations geared to meaningfully improve their experiences.
See our current data and insights on the experiences of military families of color:
Assembling and engaging a committee of established leaders who will help inform strategies, programs, and outcomes of the initiative, and will provide thought leadership on racial equity to the entire military- and veteran-family support sector.
See the extraordinary group of individuals on our Racial Equity Committee.
Building programs that seek to train new cohorts of racially diverse leaders who will help lead efforts to improve the service experiences of military families of color and increase their representation in the MSO/VSO space. These fellows will immediately provide leadership at the local and national level so that military families of color can see themselves represented in the support organizations that seek to serve them.
Harnessing the involvement of a cross-sector group of organizations to create collective action, share programs, and drive change across a broad set of stakeholders.
Building programs and engagements that focus directly on improving the experiences of military families, on fostering inclusion, and on increasing the sense of belonging in communities nationwide.
REI Launch Event Video
On Dec. 16, 2020, Blue Star Families, members of the Racial Equity Committee, and Racial Equity Initiative partners and supporters joined together for a special event announcing our efforts to better serve our military families of color.
If you were not able to join us, please enjoy the on-demand video of Blue Star Families on Racial Equity: Frontlines and Homefront below.
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