In a press release issued on December 13, the Dallas City Council says the “Racial Equity Plan” is expected to be completed by the summer of 2022.
The concept of an equality plan was approved unanimously in March 2021. According to the press release, the city is working with CoSpero Consulting LLC, a “Dallas-based social impact consulting firm committed to creating meaningful systems change by developing a stakeholder-informed strategy.”
CoSpero currently works with the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas to address ways to remove barriers to social services and conducts events to support TeachDFW’s efforts to attract top-level applicants to area teacher education colleges.
An audit in August 2021 by the City Auditor identified a lack of diversity in Dallas boards, commissions, and elected positions as a barrier to effective governance. The Racial Equity Plan is expected to provide a framework that will direct the city government in addressing “historic differences in populations” throughout the city.
“The Racial Equity Plan is how we, as a city, will walk our talk about equity,” said Chair Jaynie Schultz and Council Member of District 11 in the press release. “It’s our guidebook for listening and acting to improve the daily lives of our residents through a lens that serves everyone based on their unique needs.”
The city intends to engage the community in efforts to construct the plan. A series of community input sessions are scheduled through February 2022 and will be conducted online and in person. The plan is expected to provide strategic short-term, mid-term, and future objectives.
“The Racial Equity Plan is a monumental step towards operationalizing equity in the City of Dallas,” said Chief of Equity and Inclusion, Liz Cedillo-Pereira in the press release. “It is a strategy that will identify specific equity goals in each City department and facilitate collaborative solutions to close disparities in the coming years. We are working alongside our policymakers, departments, civic stakeholders, and community members to envision a city where we all thrive as one Dallas.”
By establishing a timeline and a schedule to implement the plan, the city council is signaling the intention to follow through with plans to address diversity. The resolution passed in March sought to affirm the commitment of the City Council to “address and dismantle racism.” The plan is intended to guide the city in making equitable decisions in providing services, addressing economic development, and training law enforcement officers.
“In an effort to address historic racial disparities in the City of Dallas, I requested a citywide racial equity plan as the inaugural chair of the Workforce, Education and Equity Committee,” Vice-Chair Casey Thomas and Council Member of District 3 said in the press release. “After meeting with the consultants, I am confident that Dallas will be a more equitable city as a result of this important work.”
Residents, community organizers, businesses, and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the formation of the Racial Equity Plan. Information about the plan and a schedule of public hearings are available at weareonedallas.org.Â
