The Reparations Collective

WHAT IS THE REPARATIONS COLLECTIVE?

We began as a group of white anti-racists who acknowledged how much we benefited from white privilege.  Later, new people joined us and we were comprised of both settlers of European descent and also members of other cultural groups.

In recognition of the collective harms of the past and how they continue today, our goal was to agitate for reparations education, policy change, and legislation. We also invited people to join us in making regular, individual reparations payments.

The Collective believed that reparations for Black and Indigenous folks is vital for justice. 

We were based in western Massachusetts, USA, mostly Franklin County and welcomed participation from beyond this geographic region.

We found reparative justice work a joyful opportunity to collectively address centuries of racialized harm and take steps toward healing and repair for the benefit of all.

(Logo artist: Keven van Zoen)

OUR HISTORY

The Reparations Collective began as a committee of Racial Justice Rising in 2020, planning programming and educational opportunities centered on reparations. 

In 2021, we established accountability partnerships with African American reparations leaders and offered reparations workshops to the community. 

In 2022, in addition to reparations workshops, the Reparations Collective distributed $7000 to reparations-oriented organizations in our region.

In 2023, the Collective distributed another $7000 to local African American led organizations, held and/or supported two workshops on reparations, agitated for reparations legislation and spread the good word in the region via tabling at events and the radio.  

In 2024, we expanded our accountability partner relationships to include Indigenous leaders. The reparations payments of $8,750 were divided between the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuc band based in Fiskdale, MA and the African American-led Crossing the Waters Institute for Cultural Exchange based in Amherst, MA. We continued to table, agitate for reparations legislation and co-sponsored a Film Series on Reparations hosted by the Grassroots Reparations Campaign.

In early 2025, we felt honored that both groups, the Chaubunagungamaug band of Nipmuck Indians and Crossing The Waters Institute for Cultural Exchange agreed to continue this partnership.

Starting August 1, 2025, the Collective no longer collected reparations funds on behalf of the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuc band, at their request. While we maintained our deep commitment to reparations for both Indigenous and Black communities, we encouraged reparations contributions to be sent directly to the Nipmuck.

In 2025, we distributed $12,419 in reparations funds between the same two organizations we worked with the year prior.

In December 2025, due to insufficient people-power to continue the administration of our reparative efforts, the Collective made the difficult decision to stop collecting any funds for the Collective Reparations Fund (CRF).

We encouraged people to send funds directly to the two organizations we were in relationship with: Crossing the Waters Institute for Cultural Exchange and the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians.

In the last four years, with the help of 36 people participating in the voluntary redistribution of wealth, we collected and distributed $35,169.00 in the spirit of repair.

We are proud of our organizing efforts in the last 5 years with educating, supporting legislation and funneling funds to various African American-led  organizations and one local Indigenous tribe.  

We are taking a sacred pause from this important work.