CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE establishing the Race and Social Justice Initiative as City policy; establishing governance of the Race and Social Justice Initiative within the Office for Civil Rights; authorizing the Office for Civil Rights to lead the Race and Social Justice Initiative; and adding new Sections 3.14.941 through 3.14.945 to the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, in 2004, The City of Seattle (City) launched a Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI), adapted from anti-racist organizing, to be led by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR), to implement its longstanding commitments to social justice and ending racism; and
WHEREAS, the goal of RSJI is to end institutional racism within City government, working toward a vision where racial disparities will be eliminated and racial equity achieved; and
WHEREAS, City staff leadership championed and incorporated the anti-racist organizing efforts of The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB). Further, City staffers from that period to the present have honored the efforts, insights, and leadership of grassroots organizers in racial equity work at the City. The inspiration of this work was a catalyst for the eventual formation of RSJI and anchors this body of work in the lives of communities that are most affected by historical acts of racial exclusion; and
WHEREAS, SOCR and RSJI leaders have developed and implemented strategies and infrastructure that are set up to inform the City's lines of business and internal culture; and
WHEREAS, RSJI's goal is to build a coordinated and unified Citywide strategy, in support of "One Seattle," that builds foundational awareness and move toward a shared framework to promote belonging; to create capacity and will to shift internal culture; utilize healing and anti-racist tools to change how programs, services, policies, and budget decisions are made; and
WHEREAS, SOCR offers technical ...
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