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Dismantling Racism Resource Book

How Can the Change Team Do Its Job? (Adapted by Grassroots
Leadership’s Barriers and Bridges program from Judy H. Katz, White Awareness: Handbook for
Anti-Racism Training)

1. Identify the problem that you want to address.
Who else sees this as a problem?
Is it widely felt?

2. Identify who has the power in your organization to solve the problem.
What is their self-interest?
Do you expect them to support you or oppose you?

3. State the specific goal or goals that will move your organization toward solving
the problem.
These goals need to be tangible. In other words, ‘eliminate racism’ is not
a tangible goal while ‘get the board to adopt by-laws specifying
percentages based on race, gender, income, sexual identity, etc.’ is.

Talk about how this goal (or goals) is (are) in line with your organization’s
values and mission.

4. Identify who needs to be involved in helping to shape these goals.
Avoid setting the goals by yourself; involve a larger group whose
participation in setting the goals will raise their stake in achieving them.

5. Identify who in the organization shares a desire to reach these goals.
How much power do they have to influence decision-makers (answer to
number 2) in the organization?
What is their self-interest?

6. Identify who in the organization is threatened by or opposed to these goals.
How much power do they have to influence decision-makers (answer to
number 2) in the organization?
What is their self-interest?

7. Identify any additional risks or barriers you face.

8. Identify your strengths and resources.

Dismantling Racism Project 70 Western States Center