Cuyahoga Arts & Culture is Committed to Equity

In all areas of our work, CAC strives to promote racial equity, inclusion, and belonging. We lead with racial equity because we are aware that the creation and perpetuation of racial inequalities is imbedded into government and all systems.

Here are three common questions about our commitment:

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Why focus on racial equity?

Racial inequities are deep and pervasive. While our primary focus is on racial equity, we also acknowledge that other groups of people are still marginalized, including based on gender, sexual orientation, ability, immigration status, age, class, and other factors. Focusing on racial equity introduces a framework, tools and resources that can also be applied to other areas of marginalization. 

CAC is a member of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity.

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How do you put your racial equity commitment into action?

Our vision is for all Cuyahoga County residents to experience a meaningful cultural life. To achieve this, CAC has developed a set of equity commitments that ensure that our values and actions are aligned. The commitments guide to day-to-day decision making and help ensure that equity threads through all that we do.

What are the results?

We are going on this journey alongside the hundreds of groups we fund, and our broader community. Here are a few outcomes since naming equity as a value that is making our work more racially equitable.

Setting goals and reporting wins.

Grantees set racial equity goals and share outcomes with CAC, who supports their learning and operationalizing racial equity principles in their CAC-funded work.

Gathering data.

Since 2020, CAC has asked applicants to self-identify if they are a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color)-led and serving organization.

Internal accountability.

In addition to learning as a team, CAC created a Core Racial Equity Working Group of staff members to inform policies and practices.

Continuing to learn together.

To date, more than 300 individuals representing more than 100 CAC-funded organizations have attended Racial Equity Institute at no cost, with support from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. We continue to learn together as a community through CAC-supported workshops and trainings, and by sharing resources.

Equity Commitments

Guide our day-to-day decision making and help us put our value of equity into action.

Through the work of CAC, we strive to:

  • Reflect and serve the racial and cultural diversity[1] of Cuyahoga County.
  • Deliberately share power with (partly through investing time and money in) people of color, recognizing that CAC is responsible for operating with an awareness of legacies of privilege and power.
  • Include and engage historically-excluded[2] individuals and groups in our work.

[1] Racial and cultural diversity = “A value that brings unique perspective of life experience to the decision-making table, focusing particularly on racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ populations, people with disabilities, and women.” (D5 coalition)

[2] Historically-excluded = “CAC strongly encourages applicants who have been historically marginalized or underrepresented. Priority funding goes to artists that foster artistic expression deeply rooted in and reflective of historically marginalized or underrepresented communities.

Informed by the Grantmakers in the Arts’ “Racial Equity: Statement of Purpose,” these communities include: African and African American; Latino/a; Asian and Asian American; Arab; Native American; Pacific Islander; lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer; transgender and gender variant people; people with disabilities; and women. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture also recognizes that some marginalized communities may not be listed here and encourage applicants to articulate and provide supporting evidence about the marginalization of any community or ethnic/people group not named above. Marginalized communities do not include fringe artistic disciplines.” (CAC guidelines)  

Racial Equity Resources

The Cuyahoga Arts & Culture team has valued the opportunity to learn more about equity, diversity and inclusion.

Here is a list of key resources we hope you find helpful.

  • The Power of Words: This video shows viewers how the type of words they use can directly link to the way they work with communities that are outside of their own. It includes tips on how to write, think, and take more inclusive actions. Watch the Video
  • Racial Equity Commitment: This video provides our General Operating Support grant recipients racial equity terms and language to prepare them for their racial equity commitment. Watch the Video
  • Racial Language: This video provides our grant recipients and partners with some definitions for the language we use within our application and reports. Watch the Video
  • Toolbox for Creating Cultures and Practices for Racial Equity: Six racial equity tools that emerged from Race Forward’s Racial Equity in the Arts Innovation Lab, a 2-year intensive that supported arts organizations in New York City in developing racial equity prototypes, practices and skills, and in integrating a race equity lens into their work. Learn More
  • Equius Group: Equius Group, LLC is a consulting firm whose work is to support organizations, communities, and teams in becoming healthy, connected and whole through coaching, consulting and training. Learn More
  • ThirdSpace Action Lab: ThirdSpace Action Lab was created to disrupt the vicious cycle of disinvestment and displacement that negatively impacts the vitality of low-income communities of color. Learn More
  • Sage and Maven: their intention is to build towards a future where equity and inclusion are positioned as a defining value, and leaders are able to realize their potential by bringing their full, authentic selves to their roles. Learn More
  • Project Implicit: The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures attitudes and beliefs that people may be unwilling or unable to report. The IAT may be especially interesting if it shows that you have an implicit attitude that you did not know about. Take the Test
  • Racial Equity Institute: REI is designed to help leaders and organizations who want to proactively understand and address racism, both in their organization and in the community where the organization is working. REI offers a multitude of services including the Groundwater and Phase I workshops and the Latinx Challenges. Learn More
  • Racial Equity Tools: These tools support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large. Learn More
  • White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences Through Work in Women's Studies (1988) by Peggy McIntosh: This article gives the reader an understanding of white privilege and male privilege. It uses the metaphor of privilege as “an invisible knapsack." Learn More
  • Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist Multicultural Organization. Learn More
  • 20 Ways Majority-White Nonprofits Can Build Authentic Partnerships with Organizations Led by Communities of Color. Learn More