The Biden Administration’s executive orders announcing a commitment to racial equity create a palpable opportunity to repair and heal the way infrastructure has been historically used to harm communities of color and low wealth communities. The Biden Administration and its federal agencies and state and local partners will need to build strong relationships and partnerships grounded in the expertise and leadership already circulating among communities in the United States facing the greatest systemic challenges and the most barriers to wealth and resources.
Curated from decades of movement leadership and practice, Communities First offers the following principles through which the Biden Administration and its philanthropic, investment, and capacity building partners can direct federal and investment resources to communities advancing solutions that address the ongoing impacts of historical and structural inequity and bring community visions of self-determination to life. The following principles honor the legacies of frontline community leadership by investing in community infrastructures needed to implement integrative, community-driven solutions. Together, these principles keep us working toward tomorrow’s solution pathways, starting with communities first.