Voices for Racial Justice (VRJ)

VRJ has previously received funding from nonprofit organizations including the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, the Northwest Area Foundation, and the Park Foundation. ^{2 3 4}

Background

Voices for Racial Justice (VRJ) was initially founded in 1993 as the Organizing Apprenticeship Project (OAP) to provide community organizing training within the state of Minnesota. The group claims to be “longest-running racial justice organizing training organization in the state,” training over 400 activists since its founding. By 2006, the group shifted focus towards incorporating “racial justice” its training and later changed its name to VRJ in 2014 while “prioritizing initiatives that directly impacted racial justice movements.” ¹

Activities

In February 2026, activists allegedly trained by Voices for Racial Justice (VRJ) took part in several protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting immigration raids in Minneapolis, MN. ²

In 2025, VRJ announced it had partnered with the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation to develop new activist training programs, which resulted in the start of its new strategic plan “Equity & Results.” ⁵

In 2024, VRJ published “Centering Community in Policymaking: A Framework to Advance Racial Justice,” a guideline that it claimed was a “go-to-tool” for progressive advocacy organizations and elected officials championing racial equity in policymaking.” ¹ The Framework defines “community” as racial minorities “that are most impacted by the structural harms of white supremacy and exploitation based on race and ethnicity.”  ⁶

In 2018, VRJ launched the Education Equity Parent Fellowship to provide BIPOC parents with training and networking opportunities to promote supported education policies. Nonprofit organization partners in the coalition include Get On Board, the Advancing Equity Coalition, Solutions Not Suspensions MN, and Our History Our Schools. As of 2026, the fellowship had supported 80 activists. ^{1 7}

In 2017, VRJ launched Greater Visions, a training program for racial minority leaders of activist nonprofit groups. ¹

In 2014, VRJ launched its Building Righteousness Integrity Dignity Goals Evolution (BRIDGE) program, a racial activist training program for formerly incarcerated individuals and their families. In 2021, the program detached from VRJ and became known as Until We Are All Free. ¹

VJR publishes an annual Minnesota Legislature Report Card on Racial Equity that evaluates the state’s legislators and legislation. ¹

VRJ provides resources to help register voters, find voting locations, and track voting records in racial minority communities through its “Our Power, Our Democracy Map.” The group advocates against alleged “voter suppression, misinformation, and narratives” targeted at racial minorities. ⁸

Finances

According to its 2024 990 form, Voices for Racial Justice (VRJ) reported a revenue of $831,502, expenses of $1,526,548, and net assets of $2,725,574. ⁹

According to its 2023 990 form, VRJ reported a revenue of $2,050,432, expenses of $1,713,769, and net assets of $3,339,950. ¹⁰

Funding

Voices for Racial Justice (VRJ) has received funding from several left-of-center organizations and foundations. Thes include the Headwaters Foundation for Justice, ² the Northwest Area Foundation, ³ the McKnight Foundation, ¹¹ the Bush Foundation, ¹² and the Park Foundation. ⁴

Leadership

Shoree Ingram is the executive director of Voices for Racial Justice (VRJ), serving in the role since 2024. Prior to VRJ, Ingram was the founder of consulting group Well and Just, the managing director of employer services and consulting at the Center for Economic Inclusion, the director of equity and inclusion for Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, and a DEI specialist for the Minnesota Judicial Branch.  ¹³