Solutions to Structural Racism: One Organization's Community-Engaged Approach in the Aftermath of Civil Unrest

In April 2015, civil unrest in Baltimore City in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray—an unarmed black man who died in police custody—brought a renewed focus on finding solutions to socioeconomic and political disparities. In cities like Baltimore, where predominantly low-income communities of color face abysmal educational, health, and economic outcomes, it is hard not to point to the vestiges of structural racism, which are both deep-seated and historical. Despite being located within the nation's wealthiest state, nearly half (49.7 percent) of Baltimore City residents have income 50 percent below the poverty level (or $5,385 per individual), whereas the wage to afford housing in the city is $23.69 per hour or over $49,000 per year (Maryland Alliance for the Poor, 2016). Given these data, solutions to ameliorate these disparities will not be found overnight. Nor can we assume that transactional service provision, which focuses on programs and services to address micro-level social functioning, will alone address such issues. This city and other urban areas that share similar challenges are at a critical juncture, and shared power is necessary to bridge interpersonal relationships from family to community levels (Solomon, 1987). Although conversations around these issues are not always easy, they are imperative. We must begin to create a culture in which community involvement is at the forefront of creating societal-level solutions.