Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative

The Minority Executive Directors Coalition is proud to be representing our members to the Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative. MEDC’s Executive Director, Dorry Elias-Garcia serves on the Social Justice Initiative Community Advisory Board.

The Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) envisions a city where racial disparities have been eliminated and racial equity achieved.

RSJI is a citywide effort to end institutionalized racism and race-based disparities in City government. There was no roadmap for this work; no American city or other government institution had ever undertaken an initiative that focuses explicitly on institutional racism.

As part of the City’s commitment to RSJI, City departments develop and implement annual RSJI work plans. City employees also attend RSJI training to learn more about the Initiative and how to apply racial equity tools to City business.

In 2008, the Mayor’s Office released a report that assessed the Initiative’s accomplishments and challenges so far, as well as looked ahead to the Initiative’s next phase. In 2010, RSJI will continue to address racial disparities internally within City government, as well as externally, in partnership with community members and stakeholders.

The City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative is coordinated by the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR). For more information, please contact RSJI Manager Glenn Harris at 206-255-7556, glenn.harris@seattle.gov.

Please visit the City of Seattle Office of Civil Rights for more information at http://www.seattle.gov/rsji/.