A Message from Charlotte King SDARJ Founder and Chair
SDARJ’s work—rooted in Sussex County—has helped expand Delaware’s broader civic conversation about equity, belonging, fairness and justice. Charlotte King talks about it’s most crucial programs.
In this video, Charlotte King shares an overview of the mission and impact of the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice (SDARJ), an organization dedicated to eliminating racism and its lasting consequences through education, information, and advocacy. As a leader within the Alliance, King reflects on the organization’s first decade of work and the many ways it has helped foster greater understanding and unity throughout Sussex County, Delaware.
Over the past ten years, SDARJ has developed a wide range of programs designed to bring people together and encourage thoughtful conversations about race and equity. One of the organization’s signature initiatives is a six-week educational program that helps participants recognize and understand implicit bias. The program emphasizes that racism is not something people are born with—it is learned—and through open discussion participants gain the tools to challenge those biases and become advocates for racial justice in their communities.
The Alliance also creates opportunities for dialogue through its community town halls, where residents can engage directly with voices from across Delaware, including representatives from government offices, educators, students, and formerly incarcerated individuals. In addition, SDARJ supports returning citizens who are reentering the community by helping them connect with housing and essential resources.
Other initiatives highlight both history and culture. SDARJ partners with the historic John Dickinson Plantation to help uncover and share the stories of the enslaved people who once lived and worked there. The organization also hosts a book club focused on Black literature and publishes Black Voices, a quarterly magazine distributed to thousands of households that highlights the contributions and experiences of Black residents in Sussex County.
As SDARJ celebrates its 10th anniversary, King invites viewers to support the organization’s continued work through Do More 24 Delaware. The video serves as both a reflection on a decade of meaningful progress and a call to action—encouraging the community to stay engaged in the ongoing journey toward justice, understanding, and lasting change. ✨
