New grant program addresses racial equity

A new fund will provide grants to Black-led organizations in the metro area and others that are working for racial equity, the Arnall Family Foundation announced Wednesday.

The OKC Black Justice Fund was created i n response to “systemic racial injustice experienced by the Black community in Oklahoma City,” according to a news release.

The fund, which i s partnered with the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, will award grants in four areas:

• Research and data analysis on human rights and racial equity;

• Economic and leadership development, and civic engagement and advocacy;

• Community-led partnerships between law enforcement and the Black community; and

• Community-led policing reforms

The fund was launched with a $50,000 donation from the Arnall Foundation, which also pledged to provide an additional $50,000 as a dollar-for-dollar match on new donations, according to a news release.

Individuals, corporations and foundations are encouraged to donate. A 10-person committee of donors and Black community members will decide how the funding is spent.

“Racial inequity is a problem that severely hurts our community,” said Sue Ann Arnall, president of the Arnall Foundation. “This fund will help address some of the most urgent needs for under-funded, predominantly grassroots organizations working in this space.”

More information on how to apply will be available in the coming weeks online at www. blackjusticefund.org.