Paving the Way for Racial Equity and Inclusion in Dallas
The City of Dallas now has more than 200 community-informed goals established to minimize racial equity for its residents.
Paving the Way for Racial Equity and Inclusion in Dallas
On March 24, 2021, the Dallas City Council adopted the Racial Equity Resolution, directing the City to work with external and internal stakeholders to develop a strategic framework for ongoing decision making. The City selected CoSpero to lead efforts beginning fall 2021 to support the development of its first-ever Racial Equity Plan (REP) with City department leadership and Dallas residents alike. Its intent stemmed from the City’s desire to advance equity by closing disparity gaps for residents with the greatest need – with the aim of reframing racial and economic inclusion as integral to Dallas’ growth.
Empowering Change Through Stakeholder Engagement
CoSpero rooted racial equity planning efforts in community engagement, targeting specific Dallas ZIP codes to reach residents most impacted by long standing disparities rooted in racist policies and practices. Across three months, we engaged 3,072 individuals – 77% via in-person event efforts – to learn and prioritize what the community cared about most. Alongside community engagement, CoSpero facilitated more than 150 internal workshops to guide City of Dallas leaders to create community-informed, actionable levers.
Actionable Measures for Lasting Change
In total, we supported 42 City of Dallas departments to establish 213 short-, mid-, and long-term progress measures to minimize inequities for Dallas residents. Through the REP, CoSpero is honored to help enhance current city plans, policies, and initiatives with measurable goals addressing racial, ethnic and socioeconomic equity for Dallas. We are eager to see the City enter its next stage of the work by pursuing funding opportunities to ensure that equity is not only a process but also an outcome.
Casey Thomas II
Dallas City Council Member (Former)
City of Dallas
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