The decision marks the conclusion of a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP) process launched in August 2025. Recognizing the shifting landscape of nonprofit funding and the urgent need for a more sustainable operational model, the HRI Board sought a partner capable of stewarding its legacy while deepening its systemic impact.

The selection process included a review of several high-quality proposals from regional and national organizations. Candidates were evaluated through intensive interviews focused on mission alignment, trauma-informed practices, and the ability to maintain the "Healing Racism" curriculum’s integrity while expanding its reach.

“From the very beginning, our goal was not simply to preserve the work of healing racism, but to ensure that it endures, evolves, and grows in impact far beyond the limits of a stand-alone nonprofit,” said Modesto Montero-Forman, President of the HRI Board of Directors. “Our commitment to this work is unwavering. By partnering with NCCJ at the Consortium, we are intentionally placing this mission within an organization that not only shares our values, but also possesses the infrastructure, expertise, and century-long legacy necessary to sustain and strengthen this work for generations to come. This transition is not an ending but rather a strategic step forward that allows the core of our mission to thrive, expand, and continue advancing equity, justice, and healing in deeper and more lasting ways.”

Ryan McCollum added, “Another monumental positive note is that, having served on both boards, I’ve long imagined how much stronger we could be together rather than apart. Bringing HRI and NCCJ under one roof transforms years of parallel work into a single, more powerful engine for healing, justice, and lasting community change.” 

Why NCCJ at the Consortium?

The HRI Board selected NCCJ at the Consortium based on several critical pillars of strength:

• Mission Alignment: With a centennial foundation in social justice and systemic reform, NCCJ embodies the same pursuit of racial equity that has defined HRI’s work since its inception.
  
  
• Infrastructure and Stability: The Consortium’s 50-year history of social justice advocacy provides the robust fiscal and administrative support necessary to sustain HRI’s programming.
  
  
• Expertise in Anti-Oppression: The partnership allows for the integration of HRI’s two-day seminars with NCCJ’s multi-layered approach to addressing intersectional forms of discrimination. This expertise includes:
  
  
• Inclusive Belonging & Shared Understanding: Increasing inclusion, trust, and cross-cultural understanding among historically marginalized and broader community members.
  
  
• Education for Equity and Action: Building community capacity through education that leads to informed advocacy and equitable policy and systems change.
  
  
• Dialogue that Drives Transformation: Facilitating structured, equity-centered dialogue that informs decision-making and contributes to measurable community and systems-level outcomes.
  
  
• Sustainable Community Impact: Strengthening long-term community leadership, partnerships, and infrastructure to sustain and scale equitable outcomes.

Preserving the Legacy, Expanding the Impact

A primary objective of this transition is the preservation of HRI’s signature two-day “Healing Racism” seminars. The partnership ensures that the core curriculum—which has reached thousands of participants across Western Massachusetts since 2012—remains a cornerstone of the region's racial justice efforts. By moving under the NCCJ umbrella, the program will benefit from enhanced trauma-informed protocols and a deeper focus on institutional and structural change.

The Path Forward

The formal transition process is currently underway. To ensure the highest standards of organizational alignment, HRI has engaged Shannon Mumblo Consulting, Inc. to facilitate the transition process. Leadership from both organizations, along with HRI’s dedicated facilitators and stakeholders, are collaborating to ensure a seamless integration of assets, data, and community relationships. The integration is being executed in phases, with the goal for HRI to be fully integrated as an NCCJ program by early summer 2026. Nyaunu Stevens is currently the Director leading the NCCJ Program with over 20 years of equity, social justice, and training experience. She looks forward to elevating the legacy of HRI through the offerings of NCCJ.

"This is not an ending, but a strategic evolution," Montero-Forman added. "By joining forces with NCCJ at the Consortium, we are moving from a model of survival to a model of flourishing. We invite our donors, alumni, and community partners to join us in this exciting new chapter as we continue the work of personal and collective transformation."

About the Organizations

Healing Racism Institute (HRI): Founded in 2012, HRI provides transformative learning environments to build racism-free communities, organizations, and institutions through its signature seminar model.

NCCJ at the Consortium: The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) is a human relations organization dedicated to building inclusive communities. It is a program of Western Massachusetts Training Consortium, a 501(c)(3) organization with a 50-year legacy of social justice and community-based advocacy.

Media Contact: Modesto Montero-Forman Board President, Healing Racism Institute admin@healingracismpv.org