Over the past four years, MSCR staff, along with all Madison School District staff, have been learning about and working on racial equity issues.

MSCR staff has participated in self reflection, group discussions and workshops to help us along the path of increasing racial equity within MSCR staffing and programs. We have come a long way but the work will be ongoing.

As the director of MSCR, I asked myself about more personal, tangible ways that I could promote racial equity. I learned that one of the most significant barriers to racial equity is economic privilege. Home ownership is one of the mainstays of building wealth in the United States, but Census Bureau statistics for home-ownership in 2005 show that nationally 75.8% of whites own their homes compared to 59.2% of minorities.

In a meeting of the MSCR Equity Team, we discussed a tangible way to promote economic parity - to work within our own department to promote home ownership, particularly to the young employees of color. Two members of the Equity Team, one African-American and one Chicano, grew up in rental housing with families who never discussed the possibility of owning their own home.

The idea was hatched to bring in a loan officer from a bank and someone from the City of Madison who could talk about home ownership, home loan programs and down payment assistance. A workshop followed at MSCR where loan officers from Home Savings Bank and a City of Madison staff member shared information with about 10 MSCR staff who were potential first time home buyers.

Since that workshop, three of the staff members in attendance have bought their first home, with two others working toward that goal. In addition, Home Savings agreed to offer, at no charge, a series of home buying workshops at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center targeted at first time home buyers.

I commend MSCR Equity Team for their work toward racial equity within MSCR and the community. It has been a rewarding experience!