Policy determines the way society organizes its resources, conducts its business, and expresses its values. Too often, low-income communities of color have the least access to policymaking entities that influence their existence. The three areas in this section have examples of community and national leaders as agents of change: community technology, community centered policing, and leadership for policy change.
High technology products and services are now commonplace throughout the world. The widespread use of computers and the Internet has transformed our economy and society-generating great wealth and prosperity on one hand and the possibility of correcting economic disparities.
The PolicyLink approach to community technology searches for ways to use new tools to bridge historic divides around race, income, education, health, and gender. It is helping to move the nation to a broader, more inclusive understanding of the diverse and beneficial role that technology plays in the lives of individuals and of the ways in which technology can support the capacity building and advocacy efforts of nonprofit organizations and community institutions.
Fair law enforcement-a key component of democratic life-hinges on the mutual respect and understanding of police officers and community residents. The development of effective strategies for improving community-police relations and achieving the promise of fair and equitable policing depends upon sustained community participation and institutional responsiveness.
Increasingly, leadership development is acknowledged as a key element in improving the participation of people of color and low-income individuals in the policy development process.
The Leadership for Policy Change initiative details strategic options to increase the participation and impact of people of color in policy development.