Our Commitment to Equity
Who we are
The Division of Equity and Social Justice (DESJ) consists of several offices focused on advancing equity in government. Our offices center children; women; workers; immigrants; LGBTQ+ people; individuals with Limited English Proficiency; individuals with disabilities; and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
Who do we focus on, and why?
Exclusionary practices, policies, and laws put in place by Government many decades ago continue to have a multi-generational impact on our communities. Our commitment to equity is maintained in supporting communities who have been historically impacted by these exclusionary practices, causing detriment to income, education, community safety, housing, health, and wealth accumulation.
At DESJ we have a shared responsibility and goal for everyone to have full and equal access to information, services, resources, opportunities, and power, to improve outcomes for all. To achieve this, we developed a Pro-Equity approach that guides our work across DESJ while centering data and community.
Our Pro-Equity Approaches
1. Change the Narrative
Normalize conversations to advance equity in government.
2. Partnerships and Community Engagement
Cultivate partnerships for collective impact.
3. Subject Matter Expertise
Foster accountability and policy leadership to advance DESJ priorities.
4. Policy Analysis
Improve public policy and management through research and evaluation.
5. Transformational Change
Transform systems, structures, and policies that perpetuate inequality.
6. Data, Evaluation, and Accountability
Build accessible data infrastructures and identify solutions to improve equity.
At DESJ, we believe that as government leaders committed to equity, we have the power to change the narrative from a government that harms to a government that can repair.
The Strategic Plan
The purpose of this document is to increase transparency and accountability as we reinforce equity in our work and throughout the County.
