Urban EpiCenter

A brief examination and breakdown of unemployment figures based on 2008 and 2009 census and Department of Labor statistics demonstrates the need for building greater capacity for racial and economic justice in west Tennessee. The information that follows is but a sampling of four Tennessee counties; Fayette, Haywood, Hardeman, and Lauderdale.

 We believe base-building, through grass roots initiatives with those most directly affected by these obvious disparities will provide the foundation for effective action. Thus empowered these communities of color to will be equipped to advocate for themselves the policy, and societal changes needed to achieve a more fair and equitable community.

The Issue – Disproportional Impact

 Unemployment negatively impacts all communities. Communities of color have historically borne a disproportionate share of that negative impact. Unemployment in communities of color have historically remained in double digit figures even during times of relatively low unemployment nationally. This situation holds true on the national level, and statewide here in Tennessee.

 Based on the “Affirmative Action Data Supplement –Tennessee 2009” produced by the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development,  members of communities of color make up just over 20% of the workforce statewide, yet they account for over 33% of all unemployed workers statewide. In the four counties sampled in the western part of the state the disparity is even more pronounced. The sampled counties are Fayette, Haywood, Hardeman, and Lauderdale. In every single one of these counties the representation of persons of color, as a percentage of the total unemployed, is greater than their representation as a percentage of the total workforce.

 As stated previously this situation exists statewide however, the table below illustrates the state of affairs in west Tennessee as represented by the sampled counties. In these four counties, where people of color make up a minority of the total workforce, in terms of raw numbers, they make up a majority of the unemployed. These figures far surpass the statewide average.

 The fact that they are not equal suggests that there are systemic factors in play that create and perpetuate these disparities. Typically these factors include, education,  local government policy, and local business practices. Where this is the case, there is an erosion of the core community values that make for a just, fair, beloved community.

 The Urban EpiCenter is founded on the belief that those who suffer as a result of these inequities in their communities are best qualified to provide the transformation needed to restore those values to their community.

The Action -  What Do We Do?

The Urban EpiCenter proposes to empower these communities in west Tennessee to effect the needed changes in policy, practices, and other systemic factors that play such a large role in perpetuating these disparities. Through a strategy of coalition building, networking, and community education, we will cultivate a grassroots contingent of indigenous organizers, mainly drawn from west Tennessee’s economically marginal communities and communities of color.

These organizers and leaders will thus be empowered through training and development to work for the community transformation that is so clearly needed as well as indentify and train new organizers and leaders to continue this work until we achieve that beloved community all share in the community’s triumphs, and the burden of it’s hardships are borne equitably by all.

click here to view "The Case for Organizing West TN"