Title
New Social Justice & Equity Commission Development - Discussion with Founding Member Work Group
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Discussion only. No action requested.
City Manager Recommendation:
Discuss with the Founding Member Work Group the development of a new Social Justice & Equity Commission.
Report
Issue:
Whether to discuss with the Founding Member Work Group the development of a new Social Justice & Equity Commission.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Strategic Planning and Performance Manager, Office of Performance and Innovation, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Strategic Planning and Performance Manager, Office of Performance and Innovation
Meg Winch, Principal, Communications Resources Northwest
Megan Matthews, Founding Member Work Group Member
Anthony Markland, Founding Member Work Group Member
Joslyn Nelson, Founding Member Work Group Member
Rusty Shekha, Founding Member Work Group Member
Background and Analysis:
In June 2020, the City Council (Council) forwarded to the General Government Committee (Committee) a referral to develop a Human Rights Commission to support the City in dismantling institutional racism and all forms of oppression while helping build a more equitable, just and thriving community.
In November 2020, Council approved a community-based process to establish a commission to address social justice and equity issues, including that it be led by a Founding Member Work Group (Work Group) made up of community members representing marginalized populations, with an emphasis on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Information about the current four Work Group members is available on Engage Olympia, including members' photos and descriptions in their own words for why the development of a new commission is important to them.
The Work Group's role was to seek out and elevate the voices of typically underrepresented and marginalized groups and learn about possible options to form a commission that could best...
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