The Coalition for Outdoor Renaming and Education, or CORE, is a coalition of organizations and individuals who are committed to restoring justice through an inclusive process of reconciliation by the renaming of offensive places. Our mission is to address harmful racist and derogatory place names by braiding together education with honest narratives, healing through holistic connection to place, and planting seeds for a future that supports all communities.

Our Goals

Educate: We educate community members and policymakers on the prevalence of derogatory place names, the impact that derogatory names have on people and their relationship to the environment, and why they need to be changed. 

Engage: We advocate for equitable renaming practices and policies, fostering a more inclusive landscape of geographical nomenclature. By incorporating diverse perspectives and historical context, we facilitate respectful and culturally appropriate renaming practices, honoring communities’ identities and histories.

Empower: We provide resources and support to regional networks of renaming advocates, so they can successfully lead local, state, and regional renaming campaigns and submit community-driven renaming recommendations. 

Heal: We use renaming as a tool for healing relationships with the land, telling an honest and inclusive history of lands and people, and ensuring that place names reflect the diversity of this country. CORE centers our work in the reality that renaming is a crucial step toward building a present and future that is respectful, empowering, and supportive for all.

Our Values