About the 21-Day Equity Challenge

The 21-Day Equity Challenge is an opportunity to expand our shared knowledge and understanding of the historic and persistent inequities that play a role in our social and economic landscape here in Southeastern Michigan.

The 21-Day Equity Challenge was originally developed in 2014 by speaker and educator Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., who created the concept as a way for participants to build habits of seeing and addressing racial inequity. In 2015, Food Solutions New England adapted the challenge as an annual way for their supporters to learn about racism in relation to the work the organization does. Since then, many companies and organizations have adapted their model to highlight inequities and injustices in communities across the country.

Following the national reckoning on racial inequity and police brutality in 2020, United Way for Southeastern Michigan embarked on an effort to expand both our incorporation of diversity, equity and inclusion into our organizational practices and culture, as well as create sustainable change in our region.

Drawing on content pioneered by United Way chapters like United Way of Washtenaw County and United Way of Des Moines, a small team of United Way for Southeastern Michigan staff developed a 21-Day Equity Challenge specific to Greater Detroit.

We recognize that every person is on their own journey of understanding equity and inclusion. It is our hope that no matter where you are on this journey or what your lived experiences are that you can gain something new from participating in this challenge.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion COMMITTEE

In 2020, United Way for Southeastern Michigan established its internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. This diverse group of staff is charged with guiding internal and external organizational efforts to increase staff and community understanding of equity issues, and weave equity into everything we do at United Way.

The following United Way for Southeastern Michigan staff worked as a sub-committee of the DEI Committee to compile the information, data, and resources which comprise our 21-Day Equity Challenge: