Racial Equity & Social Justice in Rural Ohio – An Interview with Darryl Graves

Q: Darryl, tell us what you do during your 9 to 5 job. And what led to the creation of the Muskingum County Social Justice Coalition?

A:?In my 9-to-5 job I spend much of my time thinking about and talking with community members on how they can best serve folks who are returning from prison or jail. That work is similar to the work I do with the Muskingum County Social Justice Coalition.

The genesis of the Coalition was a series of community meetings led by the Muskingum County library in the summer of 2020. That series of meetings was well attended with lots of dialogue about how we could work together to address issues of racial inequity in Muskingum County. After the series was concluded a small group of us continued to meet and decided to form a coalition to more formally explore actions in this arena.

In September of 2020 the Muskingum County Social Justice Coalition executive committee was formed by a core group of 14 individuals. Since that time, the Coalition applied for and obtained 501(c)(3) status from the IRS.

Q: Tell us a little about what the Coalition is hoping to do in Muskingum County. What progress have you seen since its formation?

A:?The purpose of the Coalition is to work collaboratively to positively address racial inequities in multiple areas of our community, including social, economic, legal, housing, and educational sectors. We seek to educate and provide resources to the community in and surrounding Muskingum County, Ohio. The organization seeks to increase awareness of social justice while providing a space to connect the members of the Coalition to a community interested in promoting social justice. The organization seeks to be a leader and resource for high-quality social justice advocacy and education. We work to achieve quantifiable change in the community.

In terms of progress, I'd say our most significant progress to this point has been the formation of several solid supportive relationships with local organizations, including the Muskingum County Community Foundation and the Gant House Board. We have hosted or participated in several meetings addressing local issues and concerns and are increasingly recognized as a group that promotes and practices constructive dialogue and collaboration.

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Q: What do you enjoy most about your work with the Coalition? And what’s the most challenging aspect?

A:?What I enjoy most about my work with Coalition is the camaraderie I share with my teammates and the opportunity to learn from them as we collectively work to improve our communities. We are truly a small but mighty team, and I am continuously impressed with the commitment and support we offer each other.

The most significant challenge has been making inroads into some of the communities we want to serve. I am a relatively new resident of Muskingum County so I'm the 'new guy,' and the majority of my team doesn't look like the community members that we want to connect with. However, we have garnered support from some community members to assist with overcoming this particular challenge. Also, we have recently taken advantage of the opportunity to have office space in South Zanesville and we believe this will significantly increase public awareness of our organization and its mission.

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Q: Tell me a little about one or two of the Coalition’s initiatives or programs you’re most excited about.

A: The two Coalition initiatives I am most excited about are our Career Connections Camp and our Community Education Series. The career connections Camp, which will see its third iteration in 2024, is a week-long educational experience for 25 to 30 African-American youth in Muskingum County. The purpose of the camp is introducing these youth to college and career pathways and community members who can assist them with making college and career choices. Based on the response from participants, parents, educators, and community supporters, this program is an absolute success.

In July of this year, we began the second round of installments in our community education series. This series is an opportunity for participants to learn about specific topics including race and racism, culture, trauma, and implicit bias. Each session is hosted by an experienced educator or trainer and includes an opportunity for questions and insights from the audience. This effort has also been well received and supported in our community and we look forward to continuing in the foreseeable future.

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Q: What advice do you have for someone in a rural area hoping to make progress on social justice issues?

A: I would offer several pieces of advice to someone working on social justice in a rural area or any area. Do your best to understand the current and historical context of social justice issues in your community. Secondly, determine early on what specific issues you want to address and what methods you will employ to address them.

Beyond that I would recommend three key elements that have served me and my teammates well. First, commitment is essential. Establish your core team around folks committed to doing the work. Second, is collaboration. I firmly believe that in the long-term collaboration is more effective in reaching solutions than confrontation and divisiveness. Our approach in the Muskingum County Social Justice Coalition has been to seek constructive dialogue and collaboration with those who initially may have views or practices that do not align with our mission.

Finally, I encourage folks to be consistent. Be consistent in your methods and communications with partners, community members, and those with whom you seek to build bridges. Understand there will always be detractors of your work and those who openly discourage the community from supporting your work. Every time we hit a milestone in our growth and impact, I am reminded that we got there through commitment, collaboration, and consistency.

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Q: Anything else we should know about you, the Coalition, or the community you serve?

A: I would like folks to know that one of the initial goals of our coalition was to create a model of effective community engagement that could be replicated across the state and country in communities with similar demographics. We believe that without commitment to collaboration and community response to the two initiatives I outlined earlier, we are doing exactly that.

I believe there are many in our community who are sincere in their desire to see improvement in issues surrounding race and equity but are not sure how to move forward. Our coalition, at every opportunity, is setting an example for how to identify and address the barriers that challenge progress.

Finally, on a personal note, I have been engaged in community-based work for over 40 years. I love to share that I am following the example that my parents demonstrated with their unwavering commitment to serving those around them. It is my sincerest hope that when my time has passed that I have inspired others to tirelessly and enthusiastically answer the call to serve.

?For updates on the Muskingum County Social Justice Coalition and its important work in Zanesville, Ohio, reach out to Darryl Graves, Gallup Certified Strengths Coach, CPM, CCP ?for more information and be sure to follow the Coalition on Facebook and Instagram.

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