[Opal Tometi\BLM\PeaceTech Lab]
Sheldon Himelfarb: “We are honored to work alongside Opal Tometi, whose commitment to racial justice worldwide will enrich and enhance our work, as we strive to implement our global PeaceTech programs in the United States.”
Photo: Janice Isabel
PeaceTech Lab, an award-winning non-profit founded by the United States Institute of Peace, in partnership with Opal Tometi, co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, announce the Road to Equal Justice (R2EJ), a U.S.-wide initiative that will provide free training, resources, and grants to help individuals and organizations harness the power of media, technology and data to accelerate and amplify efforts for social justice and peacebuilding.
The first stop in a 16-city series is Baltimore, where workshops will take place on October 23, and 30 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm ET.
“As an organization working across the globe on bridging divides between local governments and communities, countering violent extremism, and fostering transparency and accountability through tech, we truly feel the weight of responsibility to help meet these cries for justice and reform right in our own backyard,” said Sheldon Himelfarb, President & CEO, PeaceTech Lab.
“We are honored to work alongside Opal Tometi, whose commitment to racial justice worldwide will enrich and enhance our work, as we strive to implement our global PeaceTech programs in the United States,” added Himelfarb.
The Road to Equal Justice seeks to bring together social and community advocates, business leaders, grassroots organizations, local government leaders, and, in some cases, law enforcement to tackle social justice issues, including but not limited to: criminal justice reform, healing the police-citizen divide, fair housing, economic justice, and voting rights. Participants in the workshops will also be eligible for grants to develop innovative projects and scale ongoing work. The series aims to launch between 50-70 community projects nationwide.
“I am happy to be partnering with PeaceTech Lab on this important training program, which comes at a critical time for our country. The goal of justice in today’s America starts to become more achievable through programs like R2EJ, which equips and empowers our communities to use technology for social change,” said Opal Tometi, co-founder of Black Lives Matter.
As an internationally lauded human rights champion, and one of the three women co-founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, Tometi is also recognized for her thought leadership on race, immigration, and gender. She has received an honorary PhD and was named among the most influential women of the century by TIME and USA Today, among other mentions.
For her contributions to peacebuilding and her ongoing efforts toward social and racial justice, Opal Tometi will receive the International Peace Honor, presented by PeaceTech Lab, on December 6, 2020 along with global figures, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, Amazonian Chief Raoni, Vint Cerf, and Ricky Martin.
The Road to Equal Justice will run in collaboration with PeaceTech Lab’s Global Citizenship partner Hogan Lovells and local organizations in each city. Other host cities throughout 2020/2021 include: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Louisville, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
To join the Road to Equal Justice in Baltimore, please answer our survey here. For inquires about opportunities in an upcoming city, email to [email protected].
Established by the United States Institute of Peace, PeaceTech Lab is committed to using technology, media, and data to prevent violent conflict and build prosperous and peaceful communities around the world. For more information: www.peacetechlab.org
