Building an Equity-Driven and Culturally Responsive Government Through Authentic Community Engagement
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota moved to the national spotlight as city leaders responded to the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, a 20-year-old Black man who was fatally shot during a traffic stop at the height of the Derek Chauvin trial, sparking successive days of protests earlier this year. City leaders have... Read more
Diversifying Birmingham’s Housing Stock to Accelerate Neighborhood Revitalization
The affordable housing crisis faced by many in America has come to a head with the Covid-19 pandemic. Eviction and foreclosure rates continue to rise as moratoriums expire, and an estimated 30 to 40 million people in the US are at risk of losing their housing in the next several... Read more
Advancing Equity Through Inclusive and Affordable Housing
The growing demand for housing in Washington D.C. has made it difficult for low- and moderate-income households to afford to live in the district. Specifically, more than 70,600 renter households in 2019 were burdened by housing costs, meaning they spent more than 30 percent of their income on housing. To... Read more
Advancing Citywide Systems to Operationalize Racial Equity Initiatives
Durham city officials are committed to advancing racial equity in partnership with residents. To start the process, city officials created a Racial Equity Task Force, which, in June of 2020, submitted An Urgent and Loving Call to Action, a report highlighting recommendations for improving racial inequities related to wealth, the... Read more
Ensuring an Equitable and Effective Long-Term COVID-19 Response in Harris County
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Harris County has managed over 381,000 cases and nearly 6,000 deaths. Under the direction of the County Judge’s Office, Harris County Public Health (HCPH) and other partners have worked tirelessly to slow the spread of infection and combat health inequities through free and accurate testing, case... Read more
Reimagining the Right of Way to Support an Equitable Community Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic threw daily life into a state of upheaval, with lockdowns, social distancing guidelines, travel bans, and digital work becoming a new norm. While these measures largely worked to preserve the health of many Americans, bold actions needed to be taken to curb the economic and social impacts... Read more
Instituting a Coordinated County-wide Approach to Vaccine Delivery
Travis County recognizes that efficient and effective distribution and delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine is key to reducing case numbers. To that end, the County has hurried to launch mass vaccination sites and drive-thru clinics. It has now administered more than 861,000 doses of the vaccine, and data shows that... Read more
Building a Sustainable Center to Support the Reimagining of Travis County’s Criminal Justice System
Across the U.S., police departments have become the front line of mental health treatment, and jails and prisons are the primary caretakers. The Travis County Jail is one of the largest mental health providers in the county, with around 34% of the jail’s roughly 1,434 inmates having a mental health... Read more
Responding to Behavioral and Mental Health Crises without Law Enforcement
Throughout 2020 there were passionate pleas and emphatic demands for local governments across the country to examine police operations within their jurisdictions. In response, Durham city officials began examining public safety and community wellness needs and evaluating if city resources were aligning. Initial work included analyzing 911 call data and... Read more
Reducing Hate Crimes and Building a More Inclusive Los Angeles
The impact of Covid-19 has laid bare many existing inequities, and civic leaders in Los Angeles are determined to turn this moment into a movement for real reform. The city has already taken steps to inject equity into government operations and policies, including updating police tactics and investing $250 million... Read more