In 2020, E Pluribus Unum worked hard to move the South toward a more just, equitable future amid the call to action for racial equity in America. 2020 illuminated–and in some instances exacerbated–existing inequities the U.S. has faced for generations. It proved that the efforts of organizations like E Pluribus Unum and countless others remain critical in the face of our country’s slow and halting progress on racial equity and justice.
E Pluribus Unum is taking time to reflect on both our successes and lessons learned from this year.
In 2020, we:
- Launched our inaugural class of UNUM Fellows that seeks to prepare local, elected leaders with adequate resources to advance racial equity in their communities;
- Hosted our Truth. Action. Reconciliation. virtual conversation series to challenge and persuade Southerners to think differently about race;
- Captured scores of stories of Southerners grappling with their own personal experiences through Southern Voices: A Reflection of America;
- Deepened our policy and engagement work with a clear understanding of the policy solutions required to make demonstrable change on issues of racial inequity, including a partnership with Fair Count around the Census;
- Continued to research the opinions and beliefs Southerners hold on race and equity, as well as bring to light key issues related to COVID-19’s impact on our communities; and,
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Provided thought-leadership on the issues of racial equity and progress in the South through featured opinion pieces in the New York Times, USA Today (with Rev. William Barber), on disaster response and reimagining policing for CNN, and on equity in vaccine distribution and fixing broken systems for TheHill.
Our work is just beginning. Join us as we build on this progress in 2021.
