NEWS
OUR VISION
recognize our shared humanity.
MISSION
that lead to existing social inequities.
CORE BELIEFS
We believe that humanity is a noun and a verb and requires a series of conscious acts, defining not just who we are,
but how we must consciously act towards one another.
We believe that you cannot silence people or keep them in the margins in an effort to ignore problems. You must see and embrace the people to identify the things that need changing.
We believe that there is a return on investing in communities. Charity provides short-term relief, but does little to disrupt the systems of power and influence that prevent communities from truly growing, thriving and supporting its citizens. Charity improperly characterizes the motivation for engagement. The inherent value in each individual is lost when mass characterizations are allowed to flourish.
We believe that radical thought and innovation are critical to creating lasting change.
Approaches
The Humanity Institute will implement strategies that translate to real world solutions. There are many layers of work involved in socially impactful change, from awareness-raising and educational efforts that soften the ground for future advocacy work, to the advancement of specific pieces of legislation that address the underlying root causes of many issues facing our residents. We have identified the four following approaches as the cornerstones of our work:
EDUCATION
The Humanity Institute will introduce authentic narratives that center storytelling by and on the people most directly affected.
RESEARCH
Provide timely, solutions-driven research on key policy issues using a family and community lens. The goal of this work is to disrupt structural and institutional inequities and to build human centered and effective institutions and policies.
The Humanity Institute will generate:
Concept briefs – short documents that “unpack” complicated concepts (e.g. structural racism, using a case example of how black women and their children face much higher rates of infant and maternal mortality regardless of socio-economic status.)
Research briefs- short papers that provide cutting edge research to inform policies around marginalized populations at the intersection of technology and economic accessibility and success.
OUTREACH
Bring likely and unlikely allies together for discussion and action.
The Humanity Institute will convene diverse stakeholders who unwaveringly value and promote social equity and social justice. While all opinions may not align, by embracing differing opinions we will seek to determine the barriers to progress and develop solutions.
ADVOCACY
Recommend, promote and advance transformative policies grounded in concepts of equity and justice. Advocate and prioritize transformative policies in these specific areas:
Healthy families and communities.
Economic parity and access.
Defelonization and decriminalization of life experiences.
Building of an equitable, inclusive civic society.
You must also study and learn the lessons of history because humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching, existential struggle for a very long time. People on every continent have stood in your shoes, through decades and centuries before you. The truth does not change and that is why the answers worked out long ago can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time. Continue to build union between movements stretching across the globe because we must put away our willingness to profit from the exploitation of others.
- John Lewis
CONTACT US
Email: info@thichicago.org