Why now?
The City of Seattle recognizes that systemic racism through the investments and policies by government and the private sector have caused generational harm and resulted in disinvestments in Black, Indigenous, and communities of color (BIPOC). The disparities have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis.
The City of Seattle, through multiple departments including the Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD), launched the Equitable Development Monitoring Program (EDMP) to measure and accelerate Seattle's progress toward becoming a more equitable city.
Agendas and Documents
2021 Meeting Agendas, Notes, and Presentation
Meeting 6: January 8, 2021
Meeting 6 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 6 Presentation Material
Meeting 7: January 15, 2021
Meeting 7 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 7 Presentation Material
Meeting 8: January 22, 2021
Meeting 8 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 9: January 29, 2021
Meeting 9 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 10: February 5, 2021
Meeting 10 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 11: February 12, 2021
Meeting 11 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 12: February 19, 2021
Meeting 12 Agenda + Minutes
2020 Meeting Agendas, Notes, and Presentation
Meeting 1: October 21, 2020
Meeting 1 Agenda
Meeting 1 Presentation Material
Meeting 2: November 5, 2020
Meeting 2 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 2 Presentation Material
Meeting 3: November 20, 2020
Meeting 3 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 3 Budget Overview
Meeting 4: December 4, 2020
Meeting 4 Agenda + Minutes
(No presentation materials)
Meeting 5: December 18, 2020
Meeting 5 Agenda + Minutes
Meeting 5 Presentation Material
Initial Areas of Focus
Building Opportunity and an Inclusive Economy
The BIPOC community does not have equitable access to the economy as business owners, workers, youth and students. The COVID-19 crisis has had a deeper impact on BIPOC communities due to the loss of businesses, higher rates of unemployment, a lack of work for much of the gig economy, lack of access to remote learning and lack of access to internet for education and job seekers. The disparities between workers in the service economy and the innovation economy have never been more pronounced. This workgroup will be focused on investments and policy changes necessary to build opportunity and center the BIPOC community to have equitable access to the economy.
Community Wealth Building and Preserving Cultural Spaces
Through intentional policy, practices and investments by government and private sector, including, but not limited to, housing discrimination and redlining, the BIPOC community have had a lack of access to community wealth. Gentrification and displacement further eroded families abilities to build wealth. This workgroup will be focused on investments necessary to build community wealth including land acquisition, affordable homeownership, preserving cultural spaces and other strategies.
Community Wellness
There have been longstanding health disparities in BIPOC communities. This has been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis due to a lack of access to health care, food, and housing. This workgroup will be focused on investments and policy changes necessary to provide equitable access to things that increase community resiliency and wellness, like housing, health care, food and other basic needs.
Climate Justice and Green New Deal
Polluted air, soil and contaminated water and lack of green spaces and neighborhood amenities have had a disproportionate impact on BIPOC community for generations. BIPOC communities are also on the frontlines of impacts of climate change while lacking in transit, pedestrian, safety and clean energy investments that improve health and environmental outcomes. This workgroup will be focused on investments and policy changes necessary to achieve environmental, climate and transportation justice and the implementation of the Green New Deal centered on the BIPOC community.
Who's making the decisions?
Task force members will all be connected to the BIPOC community and have diverse backgrounds and experiences, bringing to the table their expertise and lived experience to address the deep disparities in our systems: economic development, education, environmental justice, lands acquisition, health care, youth services and social services.
The task force, centered on community input, will also determine the research, data, and technicaladvice they need in each of those areas to focus on how to accomplish desired and measurableoutcomes in each area. The task force recommendations may focus on, but are not limited to:
- Capacity building to support future investments in community-based organizations
- Expanding current proven programs that could be scaled to serve more in the community
- Refocusing current City investments to better serve the BIPOC communities
- Creating new programs or investments that could be quickly implemented (i.e. COVID-19 response programs like grocery vouchers or Small Business Stabilization Fund)
- Developing long-term new programs or pilots to address a specific need (the next Equitable Development Initiative or Seattle Preschool Program or Participatory Budgeting)
- Identifying new and complementary opportunities for investment by philanthropy, regional, state, and federal partners
Digital Equity Initiative
Seattle is working together for digital equity, to ensure all residents and neighborhoods have the information technology needed for access to essential services.