Supporting Local Leaders to Build More Equitable Cities

Local government has tremendous resources that cities and counties need to win on equity and create a just and fair society for all. As part of the All-In Cities initiative, PolicyLink has partnered with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) to launch a first-of its-kind community of practice to accelerate the work of chief equity officers to embed racial equity into public policy. The Chief Equity Officers Policy Network is an 18-month community of practice for local chief equity officers from across the country. The network will build an intensive learning community that targets population outcomes and shares strategies that lead to policy reforms that expand opportunity for low-income communities and people of color. The community of practice will help local governments leverage the leadership of equity officers to advance equitable policies, inform the broader field of practice, and formulate standards for other local government equity initiatives.

The three ambitious goals of the network are:

• Strengthen participants’ priorities using a results framework
• Work toward policy outcomes
• Build strong relationships among cohort members

The network will also help these offices develop a roadmap that elevates community voice within local policy, promotes inter-agency coordination, encourages partnership strategies, and builds public and political will in a city or county to support and implement a local equity agenda. Chief equity officers will develop a results framework agenda for their city or county, engage in peer learning and exchange, help develop their emergent field of practice, and receive technical assistance from the network partners.

The inaugural cohort of the network was selected through a competitive application process and is composed of diverse leaders from across the country with a range of experiences and expertise:

• Kimberlee Archie, Asheville, NC
• Karla Bruce, Fairfax County, VA
• Zan Gibbs, San Antonio, TX
• Majestic Lane, Pittsburgh, PA
• Joy Marsh Stephens, Minneapolis, MN
• Michelle Melendez, Albuquerque, NM
• Candace Moore, Chicago, IL
• Brion Oaks, Austin, TX
• Diane Powers, Tacoma, WA
• Matias Valenzuela, King County, WA
• Kellie Watson, Louisville, KY

The network first convened in San Antonio, TX in November 2019. Read about how they laid the foundation for their ongoing activities in this recap.

Download the network 1-pager and learn more about our leaders.

The All-In Cities Chief Equity Officers Policy Network is made possible through the generous support and partnership of the Surdna Foundation. For more information, please visit allincities.org or contact Carlos Delgado, Senior Associate, at carlos@policylink.org or 202-921-0711.