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John Legend is looking to address Institutionalized racism at the community level in a newly launched initiative.
HUMANLEVEL aims to address community inequality by supporting the work already being done in neighborhoods, according to a press release. The initiative works by collaborating with local governments and community members on projects to address a range of issues including housing, employment, education, health, and the criminal justice system.
HUMANLEVEL also uses its work in the community to advocate for more equitable laws and policies at the local, state and federal levels. To begin, the initiative will work with 11 communities around the country: Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Durham, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Oakland, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.
"We've started an initiative called HUMANLEVEL where local governments have invited us to work on specific projects to make their communities stronger and more equitable," John Legend said in a statement.
"Many of the problems our country faces today are difficult to address at the federal level. Many issues are really at the doorstep of your mayor, your county council, and your community leaders coming together to answer questions about how we can support each other, keep each other safe, and rebuild our country in a way that truly includes everyone," he added.
Fellows of the program will serve as liaisons, working with local governments and communities to create one-to-two-year projects that address specific community needs.
"Our goal with this partnership is to take a deeper look at the issues from a human level, with a focus on actions city leaders can take to tackle systemic racism. No single solution will fix the racial and ethnic disparities we see across issues –– from housing to education to the workforce –– but we must approach this work with a sense of collaboration and urgency.
To learn more about the initiative and to see the projects taking place, check out www.humanlevel.org.
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