Allyship

Welcome Ally!

You're here because you've witnessed racial inequity, wondered why it exists and what can be done, and decided to use your skills, resources, power, and relationships to create spaces where all people can flourish.

At The Flourish Collective, we define an ally as someone who advocates for members of social and identity groups outside their own. Whether you're new to conversations about allyship or have been practicing it for years, these resources are for everyone.

For those beginning their journey, our "Allyship: Beginning" section lays a foundation for incorporating allyship into your everyday life. For experienced allies, you know this work never ends—it requires consistent learning, action, and accountability. Our "Allyship: Journeying" section provides a holistic framework to help you identify what your allyship needs in this season.

We also offer resources for those exploring Faith & Justice and Kids & Justice practices. We regularly update this page with new tools and materials..

Before you begin, some Notes:

  • This tool is for White allies, first though community members of color may find it a useful resource as friends ask questions. For all readers, we welcome your feedback as you move through the checklist below. Also, you can be an ally in so many areas of your life - and, thankfully, the skills you use to address racial injustices are the same you will use to stand alongside others in your community, be they immigrants, LGBTQIA+ friends, people with fewer resources or access than you, women, kids, older adults, and so on.

  • As you pull down the drop-down guides, you’ll see allyship options grouped into 5 main categories: Allyship, Learning, Community, Self-Reflection, and Action. We believe each of these categories is essential to allyship work but no allyship journey is linear. Consider what is needed in this season in your community and in your own growth as an ally and choose 1 - 2 items to work on this month. We’ve listed resources to get you started below and, increasingly, you’ll identify your own ways to go deeper. And, as you find resources you love, we encourage you to send them to us so we can share them with other members.

Allyship: Beginning

Just beginning? Start Here >

    • Watch Flourish’s How to be an Ally course

    • Look for ways to support BIPOC businesses, colleagues, neighbors, and friends throughout the week

    • Where can you use your voice, power, and resources to amplify the work of people of color in your circles

    • Host a justice-oriented book club or movie night with friends or neighbors

    • Start to show up in your community to understand what’s going on and how local issues affect different people in your community unequally. Ask, who benefits? Who does not?

      • For example, is housing a hot topic locally? Do some reading or attend a town council meeting to understand each side of the debate and look up local housing advocacy organizations to see who is most affected by the housing debate and what work is already being done. As you get a feel for the issues, discern where your voice and actions might have impact: in conversations with friends, in tangible support to a local nonprofit, etc.

    • Who’s in your friend group and professional network?

      • Spend some time reflecting on who’s included and who is not? Why do you think this is? 

      • What are ways to diversify your networks? For example, is there a farmers’ market you could visit in a nearby community that might allow you to shop alongside people from different backgrounds? And how might you diversify your professional network? Are there ways to promote candidates of color for hire or mentorship programs at your workplace?

    • The Racial Healing Handbook: Annaliese Singh

    • Conduct an audit of your giving: what % goes to organizations led by people of color? Did you know that less than 10% of philanthropic dollars go to BIPOC-led organizations and, yet, organizations led by community members of color from the communities they serve best meet the needs of those community members

      • Consider how to research, follow, and support BIPOC-led organizations and join Flourish in giving to Impact Partners

    • Is there an election coming up? Join Flourish or another national organization to write, call, or text people with the encouragement to vote

Allyship: Journeying

Continue Your Allyship

Journey With Us >

    • Participate in a Flourish book or learning cohort and take 1 - 2 action steps with Flourish friends to address an inequity you discussed during the cohort

    • Practice having courageous conversations at a Flourish Pop In

    • Bring Flourish’s How to be an Ally class to your workplace, church/synagogue, school, or friend group

      • Flourish can tailor the class content to your specific group needs and facilitate a discussion group afterwards

    • Choose an area of systemic racism in the United States that is meaningful to you and research and read to understand the issues more deeply 

      • If you’re not sure where to get started, consider a topic covered in the Flourish Table Talk series: Education, Housing, Healthcare, Policing, the Legal System, the Environment, Elections, and more

    • Lead or co-lead a Flourish book cohort in your community

      • Flourish has book lists and question sets to get you started as well as facilitator training to help you create meaningful space for discussion and action

      • Here is a list of possible books

    • Partner with local, BIPOC-led organizations to help them meet their stated needs and invite your friends and neighbors along

      • For example, is a local food pantry doing a food drive to make sure children on summer vacation have enough to eat? Join the campaign to collect food or donations to support the drive

    • In election season, campaign for a justice-minded candidate, host a Ballot Party to help neighbors understand the issues on the ballot, or run for office yourself

      • Flourish has several resources in these areas to equip you to engage during election season; just ask us how to get involved!

    • Spend some time contemplating when is it easy / hard to engage on racial justice issues? Why? Why might you need to do differently in this season to be more effective in your justice work?

    • Pick up a book like Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection & Connection by Deepa Iyer to understand your unique role in this work and ways to get involved

    • Research Flourish Impact Partners and share their stories more widely; Suggest new Impact Partners that are making a difference in your community

    • Join your local or state NAACP, mutual aid society, or refugee resettlement agency. Read up on their work, attend their next meeting, and consider how to invite in one neighbor or friend to answer a call to action