Equity Task Force

Equity Task Force

Purpose 


The equity policy task force (ETF) will bring together key stakeholders to develop an  Equity policy that will inform current work, and shape the upcoming strategic plan, to ensure that youth who are most impacted by systemic inequality are positively impacted by the efforts of the Alliance. This group will participate in the intellectual labor needed to produce not only a policy, but shared vision, and framework for action. 


This task force will be facilitated by Nuhu Sims, Brooklyn Center Community Schools district-wide equity coordinator and Alliance staff. This team will use best practices inclusion and participatory practices to facilitate a representative group of Alliance partners to develop a draft policy that will be brought to the Alliance board for consideration in April of 2022. 


Throughout this process, the Alliance will share update to youth, parents, and community we are connected to via our social media and online channels. Alliance members have agreed to assist in opening their spaces, to gather feedback on our equity policy and framework for action.


Sign up for Alliance updates and results. 



Alliance Equity Practice & Approach

 

How we develop this policy, should reflect our equity principles. In absence of a shared set of values captured in an existing policy, the Alliance members and staff have used our Youth and Community Engagement Policy, and equity practices from Race Forward’s Racial Equity Impact Assessment and School’s Out Washington’s Racial Equity Tool to shape how we deliver services. These practices will be used as we proceed.

 

  • We will engage community: What was our process for creating this policy? How have those who will be most affected been informed and involved in the development of this policy? Who is missing and how can we involve them?
  • We will target inequalities: Which groups are most advantaged and disadvantaged in our community? How do we know and what data is needed?
  • We will promote equity: What is our goal, and does it reduce disparities and discrimination?
  • We will examine alternatives: Are there other options, approaches or frameworks that would better advance equity? What could be changed or added?
  • We will assess / create policy: Are there specific measurements we can track to understand our impact? What might the unintended consequences be?


We will gather multiple sets of information to formulate our policy:

  1. Consensus building engagement sessions this March with youth and adults
  2. Interviews with partners who are not invited to workshop sessions and have key insights for implementation
  3. Data related to existing disparities and review of potential measures that lead to equity
  4. Discussions with community partners and Alliance governance; including the Board and other teams



Task Force Composition


Our task force will be chaired by Board Members; Cordell Wiseman - Community Activity and Recreation Services Director for the City of Brooklyn Center and newly appointed youth director Priscilla Oluwatomiwa - Student at Hennepin Technical College.  The chairs and facilitation team will gather the information needed, and establish a task force that reflects the youth community, which is roughly 75% BIPOC. We seek a table with diversity across race, class, gender, immigration status, and native language. Thus, we hope the composition includes 11 adults and 16 youth.


  • Representatives from Alliance partners responsible for implementation (11)
  • Emerging Leaders and Young People (16)
  • Alliance staff who are responsible for facilitating and implementation the policy (2)



Timeline and Meetings


  • November 2021
  • Share update with Board
  • January 2022
  • Board review and approve charter at board meeting - completed in February 2022
  • Inform the community of board action, and gather feedback from members, youth, and families
  • Plan retreat & information gathering
  • March 2022
  • Convene task force for 1 or 2-day policy creation retreat
  • Convene task force for final revisions (if needed)
  • Gather feedback from broader community on draft policy
  • Convene Alliance board for a work session to review policy and identify critical shifts that will be needed in our next strategic plan.
  • April 2022 - or additional special session
  • Board discussion & approve policy
  • Fall 2022
  • Begin Strategic planning using this policy as a foundation for shared work


For more information on this project please contact Rebecca Gilgen, Julie Richards or Nuhu Sims.

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