Racial Opportunity and Harmony Foundation

Strategies:

1. Create social and business interaction between people of different races and ethnicities that will result in creation of trust, understanding, appreciation of differences and new relationships (Study Circles and beyond).
   
   
2. Commit to a change in people's hearts. This would result in a change in attitudes from indifference, anger and hostility for other races/ethnicities to caring, concern and love.
   
   
3. Commit to the business case for racial opportunity and harmony
   
   
   1. Reducing the gap in racial/ethnic group per capita income by half will create $3 billion more in annual personal income in Duval County by 2021.
   2. Minorities now comprise more than 35 percent of Duval's population and customer
      base. By 2031, minorities could exceed 50 percent of the population. Businesses must begin to develop the skills to lead a diverse employee base and to market to a diverse customer base.
   3. Businesses must provide opportunities to our diverse group of residents to mitigate the forecasted skilled and unskilled labor shortage.
      
      
4. Eradicate structural and institutional racism by committing to eliminate the racial/ethnic gaps in education, employment and income, neighborhoods and housing, health access and outcomes, justice and the legal system and the political process and civic engagement.
   
   
5. Teach children – at home and at school - to eliminate racism. Racism is a learned behavior.
   
   
6. Expect people of all races/ethnicities to be accountable for their actions and avoid actions that produce negative results.
   
   
7. Develop an aggressive advertising campaign to provide communication and information about the comprehensive personal, professional and social benefits of inclusion. The campaign will help to reduce isolation and overcome stereotypes, which will help to narrow the wide difference in perception.
   
   
8. Provide role models for young people, particularly minority males.
   
   
9. Concentrate investment in infrastructure, schools, housing, and skills training in high-poverty zip codes.
   
   
10. Involve religious organizations deeply in the reconciliation between race/ethnic groups.
    
    
11. Eliminate racism in Duval County. All people should commit to take an active stand against racism and discrimination.
    
    
12. Eliminate the gap between white and minority home ownership.
    
    
13. Address high unemployment of African American males.
    
    
14. Address African American adult and youth disproportionately high contact with the criminal justice system.
    
    
15. Increase minority business ownership and the average number of employees per company.
    
    
16. Recruit ethnic and racial minority professionals to move to Jacksonville.
    
    
17. Market diversity as an asset and promote our efforts in addressing diversity issues.
    
    
18. Expand minority political access and influence.