Focused on the Mission
Data, Implementation, and Sustainment
The Anti-Racism Leadership Institute strives to be the launching pad for meaningful change and improvement toward racial equity for individual school systems. Our firm specializes in designing comprehensive racial equity audits, custom needs analysis, diagnostic racial equity evaluation, strategic planning and implementation, and anti-racist leadership development.Through our domestic and international collaborations with state agencies, school districts, colleges and universities, and education-based organizations, we have improved the lifetime outcomes of students of color by being laser-focused on solving the most intractable, contemporary racial equity issues.
What is anti-racism?
Anti-racism is the work of actively opposing racism by advocating for changes that promote racial equity in society.
Who does the Anti-Racism Leadership Institute work with?
Our firm strives to provide guidance and support to leaders who espouse a commitment to equity. To date, we have collaborated with state agencies, school districts, colleges and universities, and education-based organizations in the U.S. and abroad. While we understand leaders as well as organizations have different starting points regarding their level of racial literacy, our goal with every partner is to help set a course of improvement directly linked to improving outcomes of students of color.
How does the Anti-Racism Leadership Institute work with schools?
We work with school and district leaders who are committed to increasing equity in their education communities to co-design a concise, individualized plan of action rooted in antiracism. All of our action plans are tied to specific, measurable student outcomes and are focused on improving the lifetime outcomes of students of color by being laser-focused on solving the most intractable, contemporary racial equity issues.
Author, Academic-Activist, and Equity in Education Expert
Dr. Tracey A. Benson co-authored the book Unconscious Racial Bias in Schools: A Developmental Approach to Exploring Race and Racism and has developed a comprehensive training program for district and school leaders that features a high-yield three-pronged approach to addressing issues of racial bias that impede the academic outcomes of students of color.
He received his doctorate in Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and his Masters of School Administration from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Tracey has served as a principal coach, high school principal, middle school vice-principal, district trainer, proficiency socialist, and elementary school teacher.
His research focuses on addressing structural and systemic racism in K-12 school systems. He has committed his career to leading for change, courageously addressing entrenched practices that impede lifetime outcomes of students of color, and coaching leaders towards implementing anti-racist, anti-bias policies and curriculum in K-12 schools.
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About Dr. Tracey A. Benson
Dr. Crystal Harden-Lindsey
Chief Program Officer
Dr. Crystal Harden-Lindsey is driven by the idea that “when schools are inclusive, students have greater opportunities for positive academic outcomes.” She most recently served as a principal in Baltimore City Schools, leading during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Harden-Lindsey was recognized as a Transformational Principal in 2014 for her work with community partners. In 2022, she was nominated for Maryland Charter School Leader of the Year. She is also an executive leadership coach whose focus is on developing anti-racist leadership practices in educational leaders across the country and abroad.
She holds a doctorate in educational leadership from John’s Hopkins University, from which she also earned a master’s in elementary education. The Baltimore native is also a graduate of Morgan State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in social work and mental health. In addition to her work with Baltimore City Public Schools, she is a full time professor with Austin Peay State University and works as a consultant traveling internationally, supporting school leaders with developing culturally responsive practices to support better outcomes for students of color. Ultimately, Lindsey believes, “when schools are inclusive, students have greater opportunities for positive academic outcomes.”