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Forefront's Racial Equity Collective Cohort 2026

Racial Equity Collective Cohort (REC Cohort) Application Form

The Racial Equity Collective Cohort will build a sustainable statewide cross-sector collaboration to reimagine how regional partners can engage with one another to collectively advance racial equity. The cohort will engage in six workshops and facilitate a roundtable with their local partners to build capacity, deepen networks, and access tools that address systemic inequities regionally and statewide. The first sessions will focus on developing shared language and internal capacity and in the second phase, cohort leaders will engage with their respective regional partners to create and implement plans that address local challenges. Scaled compensation up to $3,500 is available for attendees from operating non-profit organizations.
It should take 10 minutes to complete the application form. Please complete this form by 5 pm on Friday, January 30th . We will notify you by February 27th.

For more information, please visit: https://myforefront.org/rec/cohort26
For questions, please email rec@myforefront.org.
1.Have you completed the Illinois Database of Racial Equity Asset Map Survey? (Please note: completion of this assessment is required by the application deadline.)
2.Applicant Information
3.Do you agree with this definition of racial equity?

As a process, racial equity identifies and calls out historical and contemporary injustices affecting and impacting racial and ethnic groups, then works to build new structures that eliminate these systemic barriers and discriminatory practices. This process is most effective when it centers Black and Brown community members in decision making and vision, and when it teaches about and explicitly works against white supremacy.

As an outcome, racial equity closes the gap where race and ethnicity no longer predict one’s quality of life and ability to thrive.(Required.)
4.Please briefly describe a racial equity program, policy, or project that you personally led that made an impact on your community.(Required.)
5.Why does this cohort feel like the right opportunity for you at this time? What are you hoping to get out of this cohort?
6.Please briefly describe an issue in your region that you would like to coordinate efforts with local partners to solve. You will work with your regional cohort partners facilitating a roundtable and co-create action plans that you can implement after completion of the cohort sessions.
7.Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your organization at this time?
8.The Cohort takes place over the span of nine months, with 3 hour virtual sessions (9 am to 12 pm) on these dates: (3/11; 4/8; 6/10; 10/14, 11/11).

In addition, Monday, May 11th is an all-day in person session in Downtown Chicago.

Finally, you will also be expected to schedule and attend 2-3 group planning sessions prior to your regional roundtable in Sept/Oct.

Are you available for this time commitment?(Required.)
9.What is your organization's name?
10.What is your organization's mailing address?
11.What is your organization's URL?
12.What is your organization's EIN OR name and EIN of fiscal sponsor?
13.Is your organization led by or serve people of color?
14.Organizational Type
Current Progress,
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