TITLE
Recommendation to to request City Manager to work with Office of Equity to schedule a future presentation before the City Council on the Equity Toolkit, including an overview of case studies and examples on how to apply it.
DISCUSSION
Long Beach has taken the bold and inclusive leadership step to participate with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) and begin the Office of Equity. Staff across the city have been active members participating in training with GARE. This program provides a multi-layered approach for maximum impact by supporting jurisdictions that are at the forefront of work to achieve equity.
Supporting and providing best practices, tools, and resources helps build and sustain current efforts on the national movement for equity, while also developing a “pathway for the entry” into equity work for new jurisdictions across the country. Using the training and resources from jurisdictions at the forefront will create pathways for the increased engagement of more jurisdictions. This will help support and build local and regional collaborations that are broadly inclusive and focused on achieving equity.
To eliminate inequities in our communities, developing a “collective impact” approach firmly grounded in inclusion and equity is necessary. Government can play a key role in collaborations for achieving equity, centering community, and leveraging institutional partnerships. After years of being an active partner with GARE, the Office of Equity released the Equity Tool Kit in 2019. This tool kit includes an overview of what equity means and provides specific strategies we can apply to our work to make positive changes through our policies, programs, and services. Each tool contains questions to answer when applying an equity lens to our work, along with case studies that show what the City is doing to make Long Beach a healthy, safe, and thriving community for all.
URGENCY STATEMENT
This is an urgent request as a response to COVID-19 city services and applying the toolkit as such.
FISCAL IMPACT
This recommendation requests a presentation from the Office of Equity on the Equity Toolkit. The requested action is anticipated to require a minimal level of staff hours beyond the budgeted scope of duties and is expected to have a minimal impact on existing City Council priorities.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
REX RICHARDSON
COUNCILMEMBER, NINTH DISTRICT