Critical Components
1. Commitment from recognized and vested community leaders and organizations
Real change comes as the result of long-term, hard work - listening to each facet of the community and designing models and processes to effectively channel that flow of information back to the community at large.
Public commitment - backed by financial resources on the part of elected officials, business leaders, civic leaders, leaders of minority organizations and public institutions - is necessary for public dialogue to truly be effective. Without adequate, substantial commitment from primary institutions within a community, efforts at large-scale community change have proven ineffective. Resources in the form of both time and financial support are necessary for the models developed by CBI to achieve success.
2. A Call to Action – Getting Intentional
Every process begins with a call to action, either arising from grassroots efforts or community leaders. Important issues within a community, especially around issues of race and ethnicity, may lie dormant if not deliberately, intentionally addressed, sometimes with community-wrenching results.
A call to action means an honest look at issues surrounding racial and ethnic inclusion and equity, and an agreement to cause open conversation around those issues leading to real steps for change. A quality dialogue process doesn’t just happen; it must be intentionally designed and intentionally supported, and it must be accountable to the community. For these reasons, professional facilitators, organizational behavior experts and large-scale change experts must be retained to ensure success.
Communities must be consistent, persistent and intentional about their commitment to equity and inclusion, producing a healthier, safer, more economically viable and trusting home for future generations.
3. Recognize the long-term nature of the work
The CBI Change Model is based on the premise that growth begins with individuals and expands to increasing spheres of influence from personal networks to institutional levels, and finally to community-wide change. If a community chooses to use the models and processes designed by CBI, it is important to note that change takes time – years, even decades. This is not easy work! However, work around these issues has a long-lasting beneficial effect in a community, far exceeding in value the investment made in human and financial resources. Trust in the process, be intentional about making it happen, and be patient to see results.
4. A Neutral Community Resource
Communities that wish to engage in dialogue around issues of racial and ethnic inclusion and equity must create and adequately support an organization to facilitate that dialogue. The organization must be non-partisan, non-profit and probably non-denominational while recognizing that the nature of the work draws heavily on personal, spiritual growth.
Community Building Initiative exists in the Charlotte community as a collaborator and convener; an educator and communicator; an advocate and change agent. CBI provides safe, shared public space for discourse and dialogue within the community. It does not provide the answers but helps the community craft answers together, and then holds the community accountable for the decisions made in the process.
5. Collaboration – the Power of Connections
CBI believes that, in any community, there are existing organizations, resources and civic capacities within the public and private sectors that have a role to play in successful dialogue. Rather than "re-create the wheel," CBI seeks to put on the road the wheels already there, providing a focal point for collaborative action and cooperation while maintaining focus on providing high-quality models and processes for community dialogue and action.
6. Effective reporting back to the community
The Change Model relies on effective dissemination of information through high-quality outreach to the community via collateral materials, appearances by volunteers to community organizations, media relations and peer-based mentoring by current and former CBI participants with new participants.