About

CARW is a group of white people in the Seattle area working to undo institutional racism and white privilege through education and organizing in white communities and active support of anti-racist, people of color-led organizations. We support the self-determination of people of color, honor their leadership and are held accountable to people of color-led organizations. Click here to see a summary of CARW’s 2012-2014 Strategic Plan.

CARW Points of Unity

1. We live in a society where white people benefit from institutional power.
2. We define racism as racial prejudice backed by institutional power.
3. We believe that as recipients of white privilege we have a special responsibility to work towards racial justice on an individual, cultural, and institutional level.
4. We work to achieve this goal by educating white communities and mobilizing them to support people of color-led organizing.
5. In our organizing, we take leadership from people of color-led organizations, and we strive to form accountable relationships among ourselves and with these organizations.
6. We understand that racism is interconnected with sexism, heterosexism, classism, ageism, ableism, and other forms of oppression. Our goal is to combat these in our work.

Organizing Collective

The CARW Organizing Collective (OC) is the decision-making body of CARW. OC members commit to anti-racist organizing with white people, alliance building with people of color-led groups, organizing public CARW meetings, planning the annual Organizing Institute with CARW members, planning projects and campaigns, and managing the administrative tasks to keep CARW going. They meet twice a month, attend a retreat twice a year, and fulfill tasks outside of meetings. OC members engage in an internal accountability process and work as liaisons between CARW and the people of color-led organizations that we ally with to build long-term relationships and promote accountability. Additionally, the OC operates under consensus decision-making. CARW members are eligible to join the OC and can reach out to a current OC member with any questions about the OC or to initiate this process. Meet the OC.

Member Organizers

In order to build a movement for racial and economic justice, CARW relies on Member Organizers, a committed group of active organizers who are engaged in ally work, developing their own leadership, and educating others.  Member Organizers make an annual commitment to CARW and to supporting people of color-led organizing.  Each Member Organizer is a consistent member of an Ally Group, engages in an entry & exit process, has a formalized mentorship relationship, and develops and is accountable to a personal leadership development plan.  To become a Member Organizer, the first step is to meet with an Organizing Collective member or current Member Organizer.  Click here to download a Member Organizer Commitment Form & contact us.

Base Supporters

Base Supporters are a broad network of over 150 individuals who have participated in trainings, attended a public meeting, made financial contributions to CARW or our partner groups, transitioned out of a leadership role and/or generally express support for the work of CARW.  Base supporters do not hold a committed organizing role in CARW, but may participate in ally groups and ally group work and are fundamental to our ongoing work.

Partner Organizations

Partner Organizations are grassroots people of color-led organizations that CARW has committed to building a long-term relationships with.  Ally Groups collaborate with and are accountable to Partner Organizations on key campaigns, projects and fundraising efforts. In 2012, CARW is supporting BAYAN NW, Seattle Young People’s Project, El Comité Pro-Reforma Migratoria y Justicia Social, CASA Latina, the Duwamish Tribe, People’s Institute NW and Got Green.  Support is defined together with partner organizations and currently includes: mobilizing for direct action, childcare, fundraising, data entry, volunteer coordination and more. Organizations interested in partnering with CARW should contact the Organizing Collective.

Contact us for more info: carw @ gmail . com