FMI Commitment to Social & Racial Justice | Frances McClelland Institute

As faculty and staff of the Frances McClelland Institute (FMI) for Children, Youth, and Families, we remain dedicated to the pursuit of social justice and elimination of racism. Frances McClelland experienced and fought against sexism, ableism and the anti-immigrant discrimination of her era. We are more motivated than ever to realize her vision of creating opportunities for children, youth and families to thrive, especially those who experience marginalization, discrimination and oppression. To achieve Frances’ vision requires tackling centuries of white supremacy that embeds every context in our society.

We believe that building resilient families builds resilient communities, and that building resilient communities builds resilient families. This resilience-building includes the need to tackle and dismantle longstanding beliefs, practices, and policies, and to confront and acknowledge the everyday and the headline-grabbing experiences of discrimination, marginalization, violence and racism. We will continue to work with community organizations and professionals who share this goal. We will continue to support research aimed at identifying ways in which marginalized and oppressed individuals and families can and do thrive.

We will continue sharing resources that foster anti-racism and elevate the voices and experiences of the oppressed. We will also share research that points to the effects of discrimination, racism and privilege, and provides suggestions for change. We will seek opportunities to partner and highlight the work of others who demonstrate a commitment to social and racial justice that includes dismantling systems of oppression and empowering and enabling opportunities for marginalized children, youth, and families to thrive.

We hope you join us in this commitment.

Our work is aligned with the statement on social justice from our Human Development & Family Science program.

Resources to Understand Racism

Decolonizing Thanksgiving and Reviving Indigenous Relationships to Food (NDN Collective)

Structural Racism Booklet: Research and Policy Analyses (The National Prevention Science Coalition)

Stop AAPI Hate National Report (Stop AAPI Hate)

Resources to Dismantle Racism Against the Asian American Community (NCFR)

COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Health Dispartities (CDC)

Three Ways to Teach the Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol (PBS Newshour)

Boston University Center for Antiracist Research

158 Resources To Understand Racism in America (Smithsonian Magazine)

Racial Equity Toolkit: An Opportuntity to Operationalize Equity (Government Alliance on Race & Equity)