Save the date!
Race and Social Justice Initiative Community Meeting
Saturday, March 10
1 – 3 pm
New Holly Gathering Hall
7054 32nd Avenue S.
The event will include a presentation on the Race and Social Justice Initiative’s new three-year plan and a discussion of racial equity work priorities and next steps. To register for the March 10 event, RSVP to Maria Rodriguez by calling 206-684-0548 or e-mail maria.rodriguez@seattle.gov.
Other news about RSJI
- RSJI Community Kick-Off: More than 140 people took part in an RSJI community kick-off event on November 12, 2011 at the Rainier Community Center. Education emerged as participants’ top priority, followed by Community/Economic Development and Health. (In the evaluation survey, respondents also listed Criminal Justice/Public Safety as a priority.) Participants also expressed genuine excitement about the opportunities ahead – especially the clear focus on the urgency of eliminating racial inequities.
- “Train-the Trainer” session for “Race: the Power of an Illusion”: Saturday, February 11 from 9 am to 4:30 pm, Casey Family Programs, 1123 23rd Avenue. The City of Seattle has used Race: Power of an Illusion, a three-part PBS documentary, to train 8,000 City employees on the impact of race and racism. If you have participated in a previous “Race: the Power of an Illusion” training and would like to learn how to train others, please RSVP to maria.rodriguez@seattle.gov or call 684-0548.
Imagine a city where…
- Every schoolchild, regardless of language and cultural differences, receives a quality education and feels safe and included.
- Race does not predict how much you earn or your chance of being homeless or going to prison.
- African American, Latinos and Native Americans can expect to live as long as white people.
The Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) is an effort of Seattle City government to realize the vision of racial equity.
The Initiative works within City government and with community leaders to get to the root cause of racial inequity: institutional racism. RSJI is led by the Seattle Office of Civil Rights and an interdepartmental team of City staff. All elected officials in the City of Seattle have endorsed and are promoting RSJI.
Contact us!
RSJI is coordinated by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR).
For more information contact:
- Glenn Harris at 206-255-7556, glenn.harris@seattle.gov
- Elliott Bronstein at 206-684-4507, elliott.bronstein@seattle.gov.
New RSJI docs in PDF
Join Us!
Video
RSJI: Working for Racial Equity
in City Government
A video highlighting the work of the Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) featuring the voices of RSJ Community Roundtable members, Mayor Mike McGinn, City employees and RSJI staff on why the work to eliminate racial disparities is critical and how we are working together as government and community to achieve racial equity.
RSJI Information in Translation/English:
| Amharic | Cambodian |
| Chinese | Korean |
| Oromo | Somali |
| Spanish | Tagalog |
| Tigrigna | Vietnamese |
Other RSJI Documents
- Mayor's Executive Order 4/23/10: Outreach to Women and Minority Owned Businesses Mayor McGinn issued Executive Order 2010-5 on April 23, 2010 concerning outreach to women and minority businesses. The Order strengthens the City's commitment utilize women and minority owned businesses, and outlines steps for departments to ensure Citywide accountability.
- City Council Resolution Directing Race and Social Justice Work to Continue
- Full text of the Council's Resolution #31164
- Report 2008: Looking Back, Moving Forward [long report]
- 2008 RSJI Overview (executive summary)
In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way. 