National Center for Race Amity Inc

The NCRA seeks to promote race amity, education, and to influence the public discourse on race with the establishment of the National Race Amity Institute (NRAI) in a 3,000 sq. ft. space in the historic Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta, Georgia. The NRAI will be the central location for development and dissemination of programs for race amity. It will be located a block and a half from the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park in a committed space donated and renovated by benefactors. The Institute will focus on research, training, teaching, and will provide an exhibition space promoting race amity as a field of learning and social engagement. These activities directly support the mission of the NCRA and its goal of bridging the racial divide in our nation. The Institute aligns with and is the priority strategy and focus in achieving the NCRA goal.

Aided by an efficient administrative structure, a highly skilled staff, and a network of volunteers and collaborating institutions, the NRAI’s work will have national, statewide and local impact. This includes convening conferences, publishing research and study findings, teacher training, development of school curriculum and teachers’ guides, production of theater education programs focused on teaching ethical and moral skills related to race amity, taking social action, and organizing efforts to bridge the racial divide at local, state and federal levels. The NRAI team includes a diverse group with extensive experience in the field of race relations; including dialogues on race, cross-racial community building, race equity advocacy, and curriculum and media program production.

The specific purpose of the NRAI is to address the following dilemma found in American race relations. It is observed that race relations in the USA will not substantially improve unless the public discourse moves beyond the blame-grievance-rejection framework to one that recognizes and acts upon our ability to overcome racial prejudice through association, amity, and collaboration.

The general umbrella for the work of the NRAI is to provide programs to assist bridging the racial divide in a number of demographic arenas: middle and high school education; post-secondary education; community service organizations; corporate and civic leaders; and the general public.

To address specifics, the NRAI will engage initiatives in education, research, training, teaching, and artistic expression focused on promoting friendship as a catalyst to change. In addition to programs targeting specific demographic audiences in the local and regional communities, the NRAI will attract visitors from among the 50+ million people who visit Atlanta annually and come to the Sweet Auburn district historic sites.

The exhibition space will promote race amity as a field of learning and social engagement. Through the power of storytelling, with dynamic interactive exhibits utilizing digital media, the Institute will share compelling examples of interracial amity and cooperation as a positive force for addressing prejudice and discrimination and bridging the racial divide.

The Institute will encourage public discourse on race that transcends blame and conflict, embraces dialogue, and incorporates positive character strengths including compassion, love, friendship, collaboration, equity, trust, truthfulness, courage, and respect. We expect participants as a result of engaging in the various programs, to be motivated to make race amity a priority in their lives, in all social spaces, inspired by a firm belief in the organic oneness of humanity.

The NRAI will offer six programs:
1. Middle/High School Race Amity Theater Program
2. UnityWorks Teacher Training Program
3. Post-Secondary Study/Research in Race Amity and The Other Tradition
4. Post-Secondary Community College and University Faculty/Staff Professional Development re Race Amity
5. Race Amity Community Building Programs
6. Educational, Civic, Religious, and Business Race Amity Leadership Seminar Program.