Organizing for change
“All I want is for my child to have a fair chance at what others get. Equity without minority status!”
When I heard these words from another parent, I took my first step toward becoming a community organizer for anti racist change. It has turned into a lifetime journey of learning and personal growth that has brought me to a greater sense of humanity than I could ever have imagined, a committed life to the realities described in the stunning writings of Ta-Nehisi Coates in “Between the World and Me” (Spiegel & Grau, 2015), which is a letter to his son. His book is essential reading for a just world. It is my dream that our social work community will move towards this humanity by building a human rights agenda that demands for all New Yorkers a fair chance for a better life
-Sandy
We Must Speak to Be Heard
A Passionate leader
“Your Silence Will Not Protect You”
-Audre Lorde
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
When I became active in local anti-racism in 2001, Sandy Bernabei was one of the first leaders I heard everyone talking about. Sandy was there at the beginning and will be there till the end of the struggle. She is nonstop and no-nonsense.
Robin Alpern
Sandy is a lead organizer for the Anti Racism movement. Her organizing efforts within major Institutions to embed training from the Peoples Institute is unmatched. She brings solutions. She is a gifted leader and a friend. Sandy has quietly made History in the movements for Racial Justice. Sandy is a Friend. ~rjb
Robin Benton
Sandy has been a longtime friend and ally to me personally and to the organization I co-founded, the Center for the Study of White American Culture, where she has served for twenty years as a board member and supporter. She has exceptional skills as a network builder. Over time she has introduced us to people who now are key to our mission and operation. She has a way of cutting through seemingly complicated matters and getting to the heart, and then saying let’s just do it. And it happens. She has been the catalyst for untold groups of anti-racist organizing and she never takes the credit for herself.
Jeff Hitchcock
To say Sandy is a tireless Antiracist community organizer is to understate her accomplishments. The variety and scope of her work is daunting. She never gives up and she never gives in. She networks like no other. She seeks no recognition although she deserves much.