Guiding Principles for Racially Equitable Public Engagement

Racial equity work is ongoing, with no finish line. As contexts shift and new challenges arise, revisit what you thought you knew. Let this resource support your ongoing reflection and growth.

Even with the best intentions, racial equity projects can face challenges or may not reach everyone. Instead of seeing these moments as failures, we invite you to view them as valuable opportunities for growth. Being open about what didn’t work helps build trust and brings us closer to more equitable engagement.

There is no single formula for racially equitable public engagement. What works in one setting may not work in another. Each context is shaped by its own histories, relationships, and power dynamics. Use tools and frameworks to support your thinking, but let the specific people and histories in front of you guide your approach. Adapt this resource to your setting, rather than applying it as a fixed set of rules.

The language you choose shapes what you can see, name, and discuss. Treat terminology as a starting point, not the end goal. Use words when they help change what you do. Remember that language evolves and is always open to discussion, so revisit terms as you learn. You can find helpful terminology and meanings in the Words Matter language guide.

Your expertise matters, but it cannot replace someone else's lived experience. Notice the limits of what you know. Hold your expertise with curiosity and humility, and be willing to listen, unlearn, and share power. Cultural and epistemic humility can support your practice. Epistemic humility is about reflecting on your beliefs, biases, and assumptions, and being open to changing them. Cultural humility is a lifelong practice of self-reflection and attention to power.

Conversations about race are often redirected toward class or general disadvantage. While intersectionality is essential, use it to deepen your analysis, not to dilute the focus on race. Racial inequity has specific histories and structural dynamics that need to be addressed directly. Racial equity sometimes means holding that focus while recognising intersections with class, gender, disability, migration status and other identities.

Make this commitment real in your daily decisions about agendas, partnerships, resources, and influence. Keep asking yourself what values guide your choices, whose interests come first, and what you are willing to change. Notice when good intentions do not lead to fair outcomes, and be open to changing direction.