The racial wealth gap is a complex issue perpetuated by historical and current policies that disproportionately impact communities of color.
To address this issue, United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County (UWABC) joined with MANNA Foodbank to host a learning event to educate community members about the root causes of this gap and the policies that have contributed to it.
The Racial Wealth Gap Learning Experience brought together individuals from different backgrounds to learn from experts in the field and engage in meaningful discussions. Split into groups, participants took turns reading policies that have created and exacerbated the racial wealth gap in the United States. Each policy card dictated how “lost opportunity” cards, “land” cards, and “money” cards were disproportionally distributed across the Black population and White populations. The table discussions were respectful, somber, and often fueled by frustration at the abundance of policies that un-equally negatively affected the Black people of WNC. Through this experience, participants better understood the racial wealth gap and its effects on our community.
However, participants were not left to sit in their frustration. Instead, as the large group came together, some 90+ people, they shared their key takeaways and learned about potential solutions and actionable steps to address the racial wealth gap.
It is crucial to host events like this because the racial wealth gap is a systemic issue affecting individuals and communities. By educating ourselves and taking action, we can work towards creating a more equitable society where everyone has the opportunity to build wealth and thrive.
We would like to thank our facilitator for this event, Kimmy Hunter. To learn more about Kimmy's Tiny Home business, Wishbone Tiny Homes - visit: https://wishbonetinyhomes.com/
Don't Stop There
Read about UWABC's commitment to equity here