Social Justice and Equity Commission
Establishing a new Social Justice & Equity Commission for a just and equitable Olympia
Following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd and the civil unrest that followed nationally and here in Olympia, the Olympia City Council asked its General Government Committee to explore establishing a new commission to address social justice and equity issues.
The City committed to centering community voices and perspectives in the forming of the Commission. In December 2020, a Founding Member Work Group was formed to hosting listening sessions with the community and collect the stories and experiences of historically marginalized community members.
Based on the input they received from the listening sessions and broad research around commission types and models, the Work Group has arrived at a set of recommendations for the City Council to consider.
The Work Group’s recommendations provide the broad strokes and framework for the new Commission’s purpose, duties, and membership. Once established, new Commission members will engage with the community to fill in the details for how the framework is carried out.
Establishing a new Social Justice & Equity Commission for a just and equitable Olympia
Following the May 2020 murder of George Floyd and the civil unrest that followed nationally and here in Olympia, the Olympia City Council asked its General Government Committee to explore establishing a new commission to address social justice and equity issues.
The City committed to centering community voices and perspectives in the forming of the Commission. In December 2020, a Founding Member Work Group was formed to hosting listening sessions with the community and collect the stories and experiences of historically marginalized community members.
Based on the input they received from the listening sessions and broad research around commission types and models, the Work Group has arrived at a set of recommendations for the City Council to consider.
The Work Group’s recommendations provide the broad strokes and framework for the new Commission’s purpose, duties, and membership. Once established, new Commission members will engage with the community to fill in the details for how the framework is carried out.
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Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Lenneeabout 1 year ago
Start including people, provide affordable housing, and practice what has already been made law. Discrimination is not okay.
2kikismama12 months agoMake shopping centers safe for pedestrians using wheels
The Capital Mall and surrounding strip malls such as Target Plaza do not have complete sidewalks to enter for people using wheelchairs, motorized scooters for the handicapped, baby strollers, or children on bicycles. To enter Target Plaza from Harrison there is a stairway which is unusable for many, especially our most vulnerable. They must enter at busy driveways where they compete with cars for right of way resulting in honking and life threatening maneuvers. In addition, many handicapped parking spots are ridiculous and rarely used as a result such JCPenney, Joanns, Capital High School, Jefferson Middle School and Garfield Elementary leading to locked doors, steep inclines, lack of curb cuts, or passageways occluded by posts (Joanns). Also sidewalks are uneven and in ill repair along Harrison which can cause damage to a scooter or wheelchair. These neighborhoods are walkable for the ambulatory and filled with people not using cars, but not designed or maintained for people with mobility limitations. Some preferred handicapped spaces are no longer designated and therefore filled by cars without handicapped tags.
0MorenaTabout 1 year agoI would like to see more diverse performers during public events.
For example, summer concerts in the park could include bands or shows with POC performers performing world genres that attract POC audiences.
8olympiapsychabout 1 year agoProvide trash/recycle pick up regularly for all encampment areas and invest in mobile care centers with sinks, showers, toilets.
The unattended to encampments are hazardous for all, but sweeping is not the solution. We will need to start creating more humane conditions for our unhoused neighbors and address the serious ecological, social, moral, and psychological damage that occurs when folks don't have their basic needs met.
3Melissa Allenabout 1 year agoReview past incidents of OPD officers using a weapon against persons of color.
I am thinking of an incident of several years ago. Two teenage black males stole beer from the Westside Safeway and pushed a clerk on their way out of the store. An OPD officer chased them and shot at one of the boys who he said threatened him with a skateboard. The gunshot wound left the boy wheelchair bound. OPD ruled the shooting justified. In light of recent reports of police using excessive force, would pursuing and shooting a fleeing shoplifter be evaluated differently today? I am NOT suggesting the officer's actions be re-investigated. Rather, what was learned and have there been policy changes since then?
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Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Lenneeabout 1 year ago
Stop being bigoted, biased, exclusionary, discriminatory, classist, racist, and spineless Stop covering up and protecting murderers. #J4Y
Justice for Yvonne McDonald - Justice for Andre and Bryson
0DaniStallabout 1 year agoStop listening to people that talk like Evergreen political science graduates and Marxists...
1DaniStallabout 1 year agoDo deep evaluation of pay/hiring practices within city govt. and determine if any adjustments need to be made based on city demographics.
Deep Evaluation
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Who's Listening
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Equity & Inclusion Coordinator
Phone 360-753-8343 Email osalazar@ci.olympia.wa.us
Timeline
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Phase 1: Founding work group
Social Justice and Equity Commission has finished this stageDecember 2020-February 2021
Founding Members Work Group (FMWG) is formed; hired consultant team to design and facilitate Focus Group sessions.
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Phase 2: Community outreach
Social Justice and Equity Commission has finished this stageApril-May 2021
Founding Member Work Group (FMWG) engages targeted focus groups through city-wide community conversation.
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Phase 3: Data analysis and research
Social Justice and Equity Commission has finished this stageMay-September 2021
Founding Member Work Group analyzes community input, researches different kinds of commissions and drafts recommendation.
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Phase 4: Recommendation to City Council's General Government Committee
Social Justice and Equity Commission is currently at this stageOctober 2021
The Founding Members Work Group presents final recommendations on Commission name, makeup and terms, focus, and first year work plan
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Phase 5: Commission recruitment, applications, and interviews
this is an upcoming stage for Social Justice and Equity CommissionNovember-February 2022
General Government begins recruitments of all advisory commission members; screening applications and interviewing candidates.
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Phase 6: Council Appoints Candidates
this is an upcoming stage for Social Justice and Equity CommissionMarch 2022
Candidate recommendations go to Council for approval.
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Phase 7: Onboarding the new Commission
this is an upcoming stage for Social Justice and Equity CommissionApril 2022
Terms of service begin for new commissioners.
FAQs
- Who are considered marginalized groups?
- What can other people - everyone not in marginalized groups - do to support the process?
- Why are the focus groups invitation-only?
- Why aren’t we recording focus groups?
- Who is observing the focus groups and why?
- What are we doing with the information gathered from focus groups?
- What is Council’s role? How are they supporting the process?
- Will the Founding Members automatically be appointed to the Commission?
- How are we keeping people informed?
- How do I share my ideas if I can’t attend the focus groups?
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