Takoma Park Officials Work To Instill Racial Equity In Community

TAKOMA PARK, MD — In an effort to create a more inclusive community, Takoma Park officials announced they will include a "Racial Equity Impact Statement" on all Council agenda items effective Wednesday, April 5.

Mayor Kate Stewart and council member Jarrett Smith put out a statement discussing Takoma Park's priorities and long term goals for the community.

During their annual retreat this year, council members heard from a speaker from the National League of Cities who discussed racial equity and the way in which Takoma Park can proactively address issues of racism and inequity in the community, the statement says.

"We examined how racial inequity today is not just overtly racist talk or action but rather racial inequities have come to be ingrained and institutionalized in our policies and practices, even those we believe to be race neutral," the statement reads. "And therefore, we must disrupt and unpack seemingly neutral polices and practices to see if they are contributing to inequity."

The statement says that when officials discuss racial equity, they're referring to the development of policies, practices and investment in the community.

Takoma Park officials plan to institute methods that have worked in cities across the U.S. to update, eliminate or create government policies, practices and programs specifically to dismantle existing racial disparities.

One step towards the goal of equality is applying a racial equity lens to all decisions across government to "continue to build an inclusive, equitable communities and ensure a vibrant and healthy community for all our residents."

According to Portland Public Schools, a racial equity lens is when policy makers consider race for any policy, program, practice or decision. Portland Public Schools provides the following questions that helps policy makers apply a racial equity lens:

• Who are the racial/ethnic groups affected by this policy, program, practice or decision?
• Does this policy, program, practice or decision ignore or worsen existing disparities or produce other unintended consequences?
• How have you intentionally involved stakeholders who are also members of the communities affected by this policy, program, practice or decision?
• What are the barriers to more equitable outcomes? (Example: Mandated, political, emotional, financial, programmatic or managerial.)
• How will you mitigate the negative impacts and address the barriers identified above?

In the statement, Takoma Park officials distinguished between equality and equity. They said equality means sameness, and provides the same thing for everyone, although this only works when "people start from the same place, history and set of circumstances."

They then go on to say that equity means justice, and is about fairness and providing people with the resources and opportunities they need, "given their history and set of circumstances."

Adding a "Racial Equity Impact Statement" to Council agenda items is one way for council members to work with members of the community and continue to find ways to adopt a racial equity framework, the statement says.

Photo: Takoma Park Government