United for Equity

United for Equity

Amplifying and fostering voices for racial justice, equity, and inclusion in the North State.

United Way supports efforts that promote racial justice and social equity through the North State Equity Fund. 

Learn More 

A Toast to Equity annual fundraiser

Read our anti-racism statement

a conference

What is equity?

Equity means everyone has the same chance to succeed, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, ability, or other factors. When everyone has the same opportunities, we all benefit.

Equity considers the systemic and structural factors that benefit or favor one group while negatively impacting others.

To obtain equity, we need to:

  • Address systemic barriers by identifying and removing issues, such as the policies and practices that unjustly benefit or favor one group while negatively impacting others.

  • Provide opportunities that ensure everyone can access the same resources regardless of race, gender, ability, and socioeconomic status.

  • Create a culture of inclusion in a workplace, a community where everyone feels welcome and valued.

Equity is different from equality. Equality means that everyone is treated equally under the law. However, even if everyone is treated equally under the law, they may have different opportunities or outcomes if systemic barriers exist. Equity removes those barriers.

two men shaking hands

Why is equity important?

It promotes fairness and justice.

It helps to close the opportunity gap between different groups of people.

It leads to a more productive and innovative society.

It creates a more just and equitable world.

United Way Nothern California team

What does United Way of Northern California do to promote Equity?

We build trust with community members and leaders in the counties we serve.

We learn from our community, let them tell us their issues, and partner with them in finding solutions.

We also give the necessary tools to our employees to be stellar community members.

We ensure that our grants and other services are distributed in a way that reaches all community sectors to help those most in need.

Cultural Events Calendar

Resources

  • So You Want to Talk About Race  book cover

    So You Want to Talk About Race

    by Ijeoma Oluo

    This book is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the topic of race in America. Oluo discusses the history of racism, the different ways that racism manifests itself today, and how we can work to dismantle it.

  • Between the World and Me book cover

    Between the World and Me

    by Ta-Nehisi Coates

    This book is a personal and powerful exploration of the Black experience in America. Coates writes about his own life and the lives of his ancestors, and he reflects on the ways that racism has shaped his own identity.

  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness book cover

    The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

    by Michelle Alexander

    This book argues that mass incarceration is a form of racial discrimination. Alexander traces the history of mass incarceration and shows how it has disproportionately affected Black people.

  • White Fragility book cover

    White Fragility

    by Robin DiAngelo

    This book explores the ways in which white people can become more aware of their own racial biases.

  • Stamped from the Beginning book cover

    Stamped from the Beginning

    by Ibram X. Kendi

    This book traces the history of racism in America from the colonial era to the present day.

  • Disability Visibility book cover

    Disability Visibility

    Edited by Alice Wong

    First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century edited by Alice Wong: This anthology features essays, poems, and artwork by people with disabilities.

  • The Power of Neurodiversity book cover

    The Power of Neurodiversity

    by John Elder Robison

    This book argues that neurodiversity is a natural variation in human brains and that it should be celebrated, not cured.

  • Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution  book cover

    Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution

    by Martin Duberman

    This book tells the story of the Stonewall Riots, which are considered to be the start of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

  • How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective book cover

    How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective

    by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

    This book tells the story of the Combahee River Collective, a black feminist organization founded in 1974.

  • What is Racial Equity

    by the National Equity Atlas

    This article provides a clear and concise definition of racial equity. It also discusses the importance of racial equity and how we can achieve it.

  • The Difference Between Equality and Equity

    by The Conversation

    This article explains the difference between equality and equity. It argues that equity is a more important goal than equality, because it seeks to create a level playing field for everyone.

  • How to Talk to Your Kids About Race

    by The Atlantic

    This article provides tips on how to talk to children about race in a way that is age-appropriate and informative.

  • The Case for Racial Equity

    by the American Civil Liberties Union: This article argues that racial equity is essential for a just and equitable society.

  • The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

    by the Society for Human Resource Management

    This article discusses the benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

  • How to Be an Ally to People of Color

    by the Anti-Defamation League: This article provides tips on how to be an ally to people of color.

  • Racial Equity Tools

    This website provides resources on racial equity, including toolkits, articles, and webinars.

  • The National Equity Atlas

    This website provides data and research on racial equity in the United States.

  • The Southern Poverty Law Center

    This organization works to combat hate and discrimination.

  • The Anti-Defamation League

    This organization fights anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.

  • Colorlines

    This website provides news and commentary on race and culture.

  • The Racial Equity Tools

    by the Center for Racial Justice Innovation

    This website provides a wealth of resources on racial equity, including articles, tools, and trainings.

  • The Equity Scorecard

    by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

    This website provides a tool for measuring progress on racial equity. It is designed to help organizations track their progress and identify areas where they can improve.

  • The National Equity Atlas by the Race Forward

    This website provides data and resources on racial equity. It is a valuable tool for learning about the state of racial equity in America.

  • Code Switch podcast

    Code Switch

    by NPR

    This podcast explores the intersection of race, ethnicity, and culture. It features interviews with experts and everyday people, and it provides a thoughtful and nuanced look at these complex issues.

  • Radiolab logo

    The Color of Law

    by Radiolab

    This podcast tells the story of how the federal government created and enforced segregationist housing policies. It is a powerful and eye-opening look at the history of racism in America.

  • How to Be an Antiracist podcast

    How to Be an Antiracist

    by Ibram X. Kendi

    This podcast is based on the book of the same name by Ibram X. Kendi. Kendi discusses the importance of anti-racism and how we can all work to dismantle racism in our own lives.

  • Intersectionality Matters podcast

    Intersectionality Matters

    by Kimberlé Crenshaw

    This podcast features interviews with leading thinkers on intersectionality, a framework for understanding how different forms of discrimination intersect.

  • The Unheard: Stories of Undocumented Americans podcast

    The Unheard: Stories of Undocumented Americans

    by Futuro Media

    This podcast tells the stories of undocumented Americans and their fight for equality.

  • Uncivil podcast

    Uncivil

    by Slate

    This podcast examines the history of race in America.

  • Disability Visibility podcast

    Disability Visibility

    by The New York Times

    This podcast features interviews with people with disabilities about their lives.

  • Disabled People's Book Club podcast

    Disabled People's Book Club

    by The Disabled People's Project

    This podcast discusses books about disability culture and politics.

  • The Moth Radio Hour podcast

    The Moth Radio Hour

    by The Moth

    This podcast features stories from a variety of people, including LGBTQ+ people.

  • TransLash podcast

    TransLash

    by TransLash Media

    This podcast is about the lives of transgender

  • 13th (2016) documentary

    13th (2016)

    This documentary explores the history of mass incarceration in the United States and its relationship to racism.

  • I Am Not Your Negro (2016) documentary

    I Am Not Your Negro (2016)

    This documentary is based on the unfinished manuscript of James Baldwin's book "Remember This House." It explores the history of racism in the United States through the lives of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr.

  • The Hate U Give (2018) film

    The Hate U Give (2018)

    This film is based on the novel of the same name by Angie Thomas. It tells the story of a black teenager who witnesses the police shooting of her unarmed friend.

  • Just Mercy (2019) film

    Just Mercy (2019)

    This film is based on the true story of Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer who fought to free wrongly convicted death row inmates.

  • American Son (2019) film

    American Son (2019)

    This film is a play that was adapted into a movie. It tells the story of a black man who is detained by the police after his son goes missing.

  • Boys State (2020) documentary

    Boys State (2020)

    This documentary follows a group of high school boys as they participate in a mock government program. It explores issues of race, class, and privilege.

  • When They See Us (2019) miniseries

    When They See Us (2019)

    This miniseries tells the story of the Central Park Five, a group of Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly convicted of raping a white woman in New York City in 1989.

  • A  Fantastic Woman (2017) film

    A Fantastic Woman (2017)

    This film tells the story of a transgender woman who fights for her rights after her partner dies. It won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2017.

  • The Sound of Silence (2017) documentary

    The Sound of Silence (2017)

    This documentary tells the story of a group of deaf rock climbers who defy the odds and scale some of the world's most challenging peaks.

  • 9 Breathing Exercises to Relieve Anxiety

    Breathing is a necessity of life that usually occurs without much thought. When you breathe in, blood cells receive oxygen and release carbon dioxide.

  • Self-Compassion Exercises by Dr. Kristin Neff

    by The New York Times

    This podcast features interviews with people with disabilities about their lives.

  • Guided meditation to relieve stress

    Guided Imagery is a meditation technique that uses the mind to focus on positive images and thoughts, changing thinking patterns in order to promote well-being and relaxation.

  • Guided meditation to help with anxiety and panic attacks

    Guided Imagery is a meditation technique that uses the mind to focus on positive images and thoughts, changing thinking patterns in order to promote well-being and relaxation.

  • (376) HEAL: 4 Steps to Happiness

    by Rick Hanson

Questions?

Have any concerns? Please don’t hesitate to email us and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Myriam Kalmogho

Senior Program Specialist- Equity

mkalmogho@norcalunitedway.org