“Of course laws will not eliminate prejudice from the hearts of human beings. But that is no reason to allow prejudice to continue to be enshrined in our laws – to perpetuate injustice through inaction.”

– Shirley Chisholm

Neighborhood FORWARD is a national movement built by concerned citizens, faith leaders, civil rights activists, elected officials, business partners, and nonprofit organizations throughout the country. We are dedicated to action on the grassroots level, one neighborhood at a time.

We believe that the spirit of the Declaration of Independence resides in its explicit utterance that “all men are created equal.” It is our mission to ensure that every person in our society is treated justly and equally, not just under the law but also in the conception of the law.

Our goal is to be the collective voice for vulnerable populations and marginalized communities in order to foster social, political, and economic change through local, state, and federal legislative action.

Neighborhood FORWARD holds steadfast to the notion that unfair and discriminatory laws are sometimes based on well-meaning and well-intentioned thought that lacks complete cultural understanding and, unfortunately, plays to biased narratives accepted by lawmakers.

We understand, all too well, that society cannot legislate away the prejudices that often underlie our institutions. That is why it is essential to dismantle existing laws that are inherently discriminatory and to oppose efforts to enact new statutes and policies that will advance those biases further.

Moving our Neighborhood FORWARD is about the community taking collective action to bring about the change. Neighborhood FORWARD believes that in order to change our neighborhoods, we must:

REFORM the criminal law and criminal justice system through the adoption of 21st-century community policing models and putting an end to racially biased and insensitive policies.

REINVEST in our neighborhoods to include affordable housing and economic development to create economic stability and freedom.

REIMAGINE our neighborhoods to help them evolve, grow, and thrive through the elimination of food insecurity, workforce development, and relevant community programming.

WE are the countless others whose lives have been impacted by the “unintended consequences” of racially biased policy.

WE are the ones who will change it…

WE are George Floyd. WE are Breonna Taylor. WE are Ahmaud Arbery. WE are Sandra Bland. WE are Tamir Rice. WE are Eric Garner. WE are Philando Castile. WE are Atatiana Jefferson. WE are Trayvon Martin. WE are Michael Brown.