Lagniappe: Racial Equity Resources

At Bond, we are committed to continually educating ourselves on issues of racial equity and anti-racism. From our criminal justice to our housing systems, there are myriad issues that disproportionately affect the Black community in New Orleans and beyond. We firmly believe that one of the best methods to combat the structural inequalities that were woven into the fabric of our nation from the moment of its conception is to provide accessible education and resources for all. Below are some of the resources that we as a team have used to guide us in our continuous effort to stay informed. We will continue to look to leaders in the field of racial equity to ensure that we are always striving to educate ourselves and use that knowledge to be anti-racist and advocate for anti-racism.

• Campaign for Equity New Orleans: The Campaign for Equity New Orleans (CENO) is working to make New Orleans the most equitable city in America. Led by a small advisory group of organizers, the Campaign works to educate, connect, and mobilize leadership throughout the city in order to address areas of systematic racism and build a more equitable future for New Orleans.

• Racial Equity Institute: An alliance of trainers, organizers, and institutional leaders who have devoted themselves to the work of creating racially equitable organizations and systems. REI helps individuals and organizations develop tools to challenge patters of power and grow equity.

• Court Watch NOLA Annual 2019 Report: Court Watch NOLA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting transparency, equity, and justice in the courts through civic engagement. Their annual reports summarizes data from Orleans Parish Criminal District and Magistrate and Municipal Courts to reveal the need for better victim treatment.

• Forbes: “First, Listen. Then, Learn: Anti-Racism Resources for White People”

• The Vera Institute of Justice, New Orleans: The Vera Institute works with others who share their vision to tackle the most pressing injustices of our day—from the causes and consequences of mass incarceration, racial disparities, and the loss of public trust in law enforcement, to the unmet needs of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those harmed by crime and violence.
  • Paid in Full: A Plan to End Money Injustice in New Orleans
  • Webinar: Justice & Humanity in a Time of Pandemic

• Southern Poverty Law Center: Louisianans for Prison Alternatives: LPA is a diverse statewide coalition committed to reducing Louisiana’s imprisonment rate, the highest in the world. LPA is dedicated to ensuring the Louisiana passes and implements the comprehensive criminal justice overhaul our state desperately needs.
  • Creating a Smarter Parole Eligibility System Where Redemption is Possible
  • Removing Nonviolent Offenses from Habitual Offender Statute
  • Louisiana’s Justice Reinvestment Reforms 2019 Annual Performance Report

•  ACLU: Smart Justice 50-State Blueprint – Report for Louisiana: The Smart Justice 50-State Blueprints are the result of a multi-year partnership between the ACLU, its state affiliates, and the Urban Institute to develop actionable policy options for each state that captures the nuance of local laws and sentencing practices.

• Operation Restoration – New Orleans: Operation Restoration supports women and girls impacted by incarceration to recognize their full potential, restore their lives, and discover new possibilities.

• New Orleans Safety and Freedom Fund: A revolving community bail fund and advocacy campaign striving to make New Orleans a safer, more equitable place to live, by redesigning the role money plays in the criminal justice system.