SOCIAL EQUITY IN PUBLIC WORKS

JAMES PATTESON, DIRECTOR OF COUNTYWIDE STRATEGIC PLANNING

KARLA BRUCE, CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER

HANS CHRISTENSEN, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS , SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

WHY ONE FAIRFAX? A TALE OF TWO COUNTIES

• Reports from PolicyLink, Northern Virginia Health Foundation, Community Foundation of Northern Virginia and Urban Institute document variances in opportunity and vulnerability within Fairfax County and across region.

• Places where people face multiple challenges are interspersed among some of the county’s wealthiest communities.

• The solutions that will be most impactful in creating communities of opportunity for all are those that focus on sustaining and growing our local economy through investments in areas such as housing, education, workforce development, and infrastructure.

From Getting Ahead: The Uneven Opportunity Landscape in Northern Virginiaproduced by The Center on Society and Health with the support of The Northern Virginia Health Foundation https://novahealthfdn.org/getting-ahead-report/

MOVING ONE FAIRFAX FROM WORDS TO ACTION

One Fairfax Policy adopted by Board of Supervisors and School Board November 2017

Recognizes equity as an economic imperative Commits the county government and school

system to intentionally consider equity when making policies, planning and delivering programs and services.

Key Equity Drivers Cradle to Career Success Community Health & Wellbeing Just and Safe Communities Community Development – where public

works fits in Inclusive Prosperity

The time is now to move beyond embracing diversity as an asset and implement a new growth model driven by equity –

just and fair inclusion into “One Fairfax,” a community in which everyone can participate and prosper.

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Housing Transit Public Safety

Parks & Recreation

Courts Land Use

Social Services

Core Functions

Strategically Integrated Policy and Practice Focus on unlocking the potential of every resident

Collective LeadershipBOS, Executive, and Senior Leadership embodiment of the shared vision of One Fairfax.

We have an Organization-wide Focus on Becoming One Fairfax

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Federal Housing Administration Location of city facilities

Streetlighting

HISTORICAL PRACTICES

SHERIDAN EXPRESSWAY, SOUTH BRONX, NEW YORK

"The values of the 1950s are still embedded in our built environment and the prejudices. The notions of who's in or who's out are still part of the built environment, and we can do something about it.“

Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation, 2013-2017

Source: https://www.npr.org/2016/04/28/475985489/secretary-foxx-pushes-to-make-transportation-projects-more-inclusive

The Sheridan Expressway is little-used, and neighborhood groups hope to convert it to a boulevard.

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The Sheridan Expressway is little-used, and neighborhood groups hope to convert it to a boulevard.

HUNTINGTON LEVEE

DC WATER CLEAN RIVERS PROJECT

USING AN EQUITY LENS

• The Proposal: What is the policy, program, practice or decision under consideration?

• Desired Results: What are the community-level conditions we aim to impact? What are the outcomes we want to achieve?

• Assumptions: What are our beliefs and ideas about the issue, situation, and people involved? How can we counter implicit bias?

• Analysis of Data: What data do we have? What data do we need? What does it tell us?

• Community Engagement: How have the people affected by the proposal been engaged? Are there opportunities to expand engagement?

• Strategies for Equity: Who will benefit from or be burdened by this action? What strategies will address vulnerability or build opportunity? How can we mitigate unintended consequences?

• Implementation: Is the plan feasible? Is it adequately resourced? How can we think and act creatively to make “it” happen?

• Accountability: How will impacts be documented and evaluated? Are anticipated outcomes being achieved? How can we course correct?

• Contextual Factors: What factors, current and historical, have led to the situation? What factors might influence the proposal? What factors are in and/or out of our control?

AREAS FOR CONSIDERING EQUITY IN PUBLIC WORKS

Pathways to employment and careers

Community-based outreach

Create pathways for new entrants into the labor market

On-the-job training

Living wage provisions

Contracts and Procurement

Women and minority-owned businesses

Disparity studies

Upstream policies – e.g., where projects are located, who is involved

EVALUATING YOUR PROGRAM – QUESTIONS TO ASK

How do you engage your community – Are you hearing from all voices are the usual suspects?

What unique tools have you used to reach under-represented groups?

Do you have a process/tools/SOP to consider social equity in your projects and services?

Who does this review? How is it conducted? Is it comprehensive?

What resources are available to your department?

Are there resources that APWA could provide?

Share examples of how your community does this well? Not-so-well?

RESOURCES: EQUITY IN PUBLIC WORKS

PolicyLink, Infrastructure: https://www.policylink.org/our-work/community/infrastructure

Next City – Inspiring Better Cities: https://nextcity.org/#

All-In Cities Toolkit: https://allincities.org/toolkit

Government Alliance on Race and Equity, Equitable Development Tool: https://www.racialequityalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GARE-Equitable-Development.pdf

King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan: https://aqua.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/dnrp-directors-office/equity-social-justice/201609-ESJ-SP-FULL.pdf

One Fairfax Websites - County and Schools: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/topics/one-Fairfax;https://www.fcps.edu/onefairfax

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QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION