Brookline for Racial Justice & Equity

Brookline for Racial Justice & Equity, known as BRJE, is a grassroots nonprofit working to eliminate racism in Brookline. It uses advocacy, education and direct action to challenge inequities in education, housing, policing and governance, while creating spaces for communities of color to thrive. Its goals include making Brookline affordable for people of color, removing barriers to civic participation, enforcing civil rights protections, and opening pathways to economic mobility.

The group started in 2016 as a series of conversations among educators, former students and community members examining how racism showed up in Brookline, and it grew into an organized movement. Its calendar mixes civic and cultural events, including candidate forums on racial justice, author talks, film screenings, a Juneteenth celebration, an annual AANHPI heritage event and an appearance at the farmers’ market. The organization also cites local data, such as income and unemployment gaps, to make its case for policy change.

What to Know

• Retired high school teacher Abby Erdmann led the group’s founding.
• Its stated mission is to eliminate racism and all its vestiges in Brookline within our lifetime.
• It has held Rising Together spring mixers and a teen sign-making workshop.