Racial Equity and Social Justice

Summary of objective implementation status (achievements or progress over last year; significant delays or issues, etc.)

The Office of Equity worked with a group of 10 Core Team members, who received the Facilitation training, to create a Racial Equity 101 Training curriculum as part of the Racial Equity Learning Program. This group met weekly between February and April of 2023  to develop a vision for the training, including desired outcomes and objectives and to create a draft curriculum with an accompanying script. The group created 3 modules for this training. The first module is an “Introduction” to the Office of Equity, the Racial Equity and Social Justice Pillar in the County’s Strategic Plan, why we lead with race, Sonoma County history and present, relevant ethnoracial data, equity in disasters, and the Office’s Vision, Mission, and Values. The second module is on “Core Concepts and Shared Definitions,” which focuses on key concepts and definitions, the four levels of racism, staff and leadership positionality within racial frameworks, and how to begin to apply this knowledge to systems as public servants. The third and final module is on “Skill Building” and provides useful techniques for holding conversations about race, giving and receiving anti-racist feedback, and other healing centered tools and activities to actively mitigate harm in workplace settings.

Key milestone update (include relevant metrics, if applicable)

Due to the limited capacity of the OOE, this process slowed down after April 2023. Fortunately, the OOE received Strategic Plan funds to hire a permanent Program Planning and Evaluation Analyst (PPEA), who, among other duties, will be supporting the finalization of the training and launch to the County workforce in early 2024. The PPEA was hired in October 2023 and is in the process of reconvening the initial team of Core Team facilitators and is working in close collaboration with the Human Resources department to launch the training.

Coordination and partnership update

The Office of Equity has been working closely with the Human Resources department and with the group of Core Team facilitators and its department leadership as we prepare for and launch the Racial Equity 101 Training for all county employees in calendar year 2024.

Community, equity and climate update

The Office of Equity operates using anti-racist and equitable principles in all of our work.

Funding narrative (If this objective received Strategic Plan funding in year 1 or year 2, please provide a status of expenditures to date.)

The OOE has recently expanded its staff capacity to coordinate the creation and delivery of a Countywide Racial Equity 101 Training. However, the Office remains unfunded for any additional needs associated with launching a training for a workforce of over 4,000 employees. While we work closely with our partners in the Human Resources departments, there is no earmarked funding for Core Team facilitators and HR staff to maintain and continue to develop this training on an ongoing basis. Costs associated with the launch of this project may include video and graphic support for the launch of a virtual training to live in the County LMS. Additionally, County facilitators, who will be leading the launch of the 101 training need expert facilitator support as they continue to develop their own skills as facilitators.