Racial Equity Toolkit to Assess Policies, Initiatives, Programs, and Budget Issues

The Racial Equity Toolkit is a 7-page, graphics-heavy, user-friendly, interactive workbook that lays out a process and set of questions to guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, initiatives, programs, and budget issues to address the impacts on racial equity. Though not specifically designed for urban natural areas or environmental work, the toolkit is general enough to provide guidance for urban forestry professionals, urban planners, and more. This toolkit was created by the Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative, and users are encouraged to apply the toolkit early in the planning process with people from different racial perspectives.

In a nutshell, this resource offers:

• Guidance to make sure racial equity is taken into account when making plans and policies.
• A step-by-step process for considering racial equity, from setting outcomes, to minimizing harm, to reporting back and maintaining accountability.
• A glossary and in-depth data resources for understanding what racial equity means, what it looks like across Seattle's urban landscape, and why it matters.

How to use this resource:

• An example of a process that can help take racial equity into consideration when planning new programs or policies. 
• Advice on identifying stakeholders and how to listen to communities of color. 
• Data resources that make the case for including racial equity concerns in new programs or plans.

Author: Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative 

Date published: 2012

Point of contact: Lisa Ciecko, Plant Ecologist, Green Seattle Partnership, lisa.ciecko@seattle.gov 

Resource is available online here