LA County Adopts Countywide Racial Equity Strategic Plan

Creator: Ted Eytan

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors July 13 unanimously adopted a groundbreaking countywide racial equity strategic plan with five strategic goals intended to measurably improve the lives of residents and communities throughout Los Angeles County.

The board, acting on a motion by Supervisors Mitchell and Solis, declared its commitment to fostering meaningful and lasting change through the adoption of the countywide racial equity strategic plan. Developed by the Chief Executive Office’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, it outlines dozens of strategic goals and initiatives aimed to address structural racism. Co-created with residents, community-based organizations, civic leaders, philanthropic organizations, academic partners, and public/private agencies, the plan presents a 10-year roadmap to foster a more equitable and inclusive county where all residents are healthy, experience justice and thrive.

The creation of the countywide racial equity strategic plan was a directive of the board when a motion was unanimously adopted on July 21, 2020 to establish an anti-racist county policy agenda, declaring racism a matter of public health in the county. Moreover, ARDI was established and is charged with developing the underlying policy platform, and implementing the plan in collaboration with department staff and leadership.

The county identified five strategic goals to be achieved through multiple initiatives over the next decade:

Increase Attainment of Postsecondary Credentials with Significant Labor Market Value

Reduce Adult First-Time Felony Convictions

Increase Stable Full-Time Employment Among Individual Adults

Increase the Percentage of Families with Incomes Above 250% Federal Poverty Level

Reduce Infant Mortality

In addition, the strategic plan outlines several historical factors that helped exacerbate racial disparities and inequity across the county. The plan reveals significant racial gaps in high school graduation, in year round full-time employment, and much larger gaps in college enrollment, college graduation, family incomes and homeownership rates.

Details: https://tinyurl.com/racial-equity-strategic-plan