|
Letter from the Director, Dr. Amber Hewitt
It has been my distinct honor to serve as the District’s first Chief Equity Officer, under the leadership of Mayor Bowser. As I reflect on my first year in this role, I am grateful for all that we have accomplished together. To our District residents, we want you to be equal shareholders in DC’s growth. Your experiences must be a central part of our vision of racial equity for the District. We are here to listen, understand, and implement change. To our community advocates, we want to be your partner inside the government. Together, let’s mobilize the needs of the community into lasting, equitable change. We are in this for the long-haul. To my District Government colleagues, we want to support you with the tools to become change agents in racial equity.
I’d like to highlight a few successes since the office was established in February 2021:
- Recruited and onboarded 6 staff
- Developed a racial equity training series
- Developed tools such as the Racial Equity Budget Tool and Racial Equity Impact Assessment
- Established a pilot cohort of 12 agencies charged with implementing a racial equity lens within their policies and practices
- Launched a data standards project to assist agencies with collecting high-quality data on program and policy outcomes for District residents
The Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity looks forward to continuing our work with residents, District Government agencies, and external stakeholders to eliminate racial and ethnic inequities and improve outcomes for all.
|
|
|
|
Last week, with the DC Council’s support, Mayor Bowser delivered the most equitable budget put forth under Home Rule. The $19.5 billion FY23 budget focuses on building a stronger, more equitable, and more affordable DC. ORE worked with agencies to provide tools and resources to ensure that equitable investments reach residents who need them the most.
|
|
DC Infrastructure Week
On May 18, as part of Infrastructure Week, Mayor Bowser was joined by White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, as well as members of the DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force, community leaders, and local and federal government officials for a tour of transformative projects focused on making Washington, DC more connected, equitable, and sustainable. ORE Director Amber Hewitt is a member of the Workforce Capacity Subcommittee within the DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force. While the DC Build Back Better Infrastructure Task Force meets and develops recommendations, we want to hear from residents across the District who want to have their say in how we prioritize funding projects. Learn more and share your feedback here.
|
|
ORE in Action
Government Alliance for Race and Equity (GARE)
The Mayor’s Office of Racial Equity (ORE), in collaboration with the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE), led a workshop during the 2022 GARE Annual Membership Meeting in Portland, Oregon. The theme of the meeting was “Reimaging Government for Racial Equity and Justice.” The workshop described how ORE was established and stressed the importance of reimagining existing government infrastructure to successfully close racial equity gaps. In addition to case studies from DOEE’s work, attendees learned strategies to convene a productive multiagency cohort and to advocate for and implement organizational change through a racial equity lens. The workshop also discussed how to create racial equity tools in support of organizational change, for example tools to help budget for racial equity, conduct an impact assessment, or support meaningful community engagement. Participation in the GARE Annual Meeting provided ORE and DOEE with the opportunity to network with and learn from racial equity experts from across the country. which is critical to furthering the District’s mission to ensure all residents can thrive with a sense of agency and where race no longer predicts one’s opportunities, outcomes, or the distribution of resources.
|
|
|
The Racial Equity Data Standards Pilot Project is moving into its second phase to include community engagement sessions. The pilot aims to assist District agencies in thinking critically about the demographic data that they collect, store, and analyze to improve outcomes for District residents. ORE and the four agencies participating in the pilot project (Child and Family Services Agency, DC Public Library, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, and the Department of Energy and Environment) will invite a small group of residents to discuss their experiences with race and ethnicity data collection by District agencies. These sessions will take place in the late summer to early fall. To learn more, contact Hannah Eli at hannah.eli@dc.gov.
|
|
|
Community Partner
Anacostia Watershed Society
Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) is a nonprofit organization, “working to protect and restore the Anacostia River by bringing partners and communities together to achieve a clean and safe Anacostia River for the benefit of all living in its watershed and for future generations. Since its founding in 1989, AWS has grown to include outreach efforts and programming focused on environmental education, stewardship, and recreation.” ORE recently joined AWS, community members, and other government partners for a boat tour of the Anacostia River to explore the ecological and historical changes that have occurred in the river and the surrounding communities. AWS’ work helps to advance Mayor Bowser’s Sustainable DC 2.0 goal to improve the quality of waterways to standards suitable for fishing and swimming. AWS offers opportunities for visitors to explore the history and progress along the Anacostia River. Visit AWS online for more information.
|
Government Partner
Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs (MOAPIA)
Throughout the month of May, the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs (MOAPIA) hosted several events to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and highlight the rich culture and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. MOAPIA is committed to engaging the District’s AAPI residents and business owners to promote the general welfare of DC’s AAPI community. As the Mayor’s liaison to the AAPI community, the office connects residents and businesses with District agencies to foster efficient and effective partnerships, improve access to services, and help break down language and cultural barriers. To learn more, visit MOAPIA online.
|
|
Carmen Berry has extensive experience and a proven commitment to program development and implementation for local government and private sector operations. As a Special Assistant to the Chief Equity Officer, Ms. Berry is responsible for supporting the office’s day-to-day operations and establishing and cultivating relationships with residents, community stakeholders, and community-based organizations. Before joining the Office of Racial Equity, Carmen served as Program Manager of the District’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. In this role, she wore many hats, including Program Manager of a team of Outreach Coordinators tasked with providing direct support to families of homicide victims and survivors of shootings and stabbings. Carmen also served as a Community Outreach Coordinator under the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. In that role, Ms. Berry provided direct support to communities impacted by high rates of gun violence.
Before joining the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services’ office, Ms. Berry’s passion led her to the field of Public and Community Health. She managed a hypertension and diabetes screening and education program for MedStar Health by operating directly from African American barbershops across the District. She also served as a Senior Research Supervisor in the Department of Epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, examining how environmental exposure during pregnancy and early life might play a part in the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Carmen is a native Washingtonian and resides in her childhood home located in Ward 5. She holds a Master’s of Science in Health Education from Howard University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Community Health from Morgan State University.
Fun Fact: Carmen attended School Without Walls Senior High School and was the Anacostia Senior High School girls basketball team captain during her junior and senior years.
|
|
|
Resources
Small Medium Business Growth Fund Deadline
Friday, June 3, 2022 at 4:00pm
Businesses that have not yet submitted their applications will have an additional week to apply. The Small Medium Business Growth Fund, a program that will offer grants aimed to retain and expand district-based small businesses by supporting large scale capital improvements, large equipment purchasing, and technological advancements within retail, professional services, industrial-based businesses and manufacturing industries.
If you have questions about the grant content, applicants will submit questions to SMBGrowthFund@dc.gov. Applicants can request technical assistance from GrantVantage at applicantsupport@grantvantage.com. Technical assistance will be available during business hours 9:00 am - 6:00 pm EST.
Click here for information about the Small Medium Business Growth Fund, including eligibility criteria, information sessions and more!
Open Streets DC
Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 9:00am to 3:00pm
On 7th Street NW, between Florida Avenue NW and Pennsylvania Avenue NW
We are thrilled to bring the first Signature Open Streets event of the year through Downtown! This 1 ½ mile route will connect Shaw, Mount Vernon Square, Chinatown, and Penn Quarter as people ride, bike, walk, socialize, and participate in programming planned exclusively for 7th Street!
DOEE Going Solar! Seminar Series
Community Solar with EnergySage
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 12:00pm
DOEE wants to help YOU go solar! Many residents and landlords are interested in solar but do not know where to start. DOEE invites residents, landlords, and clean energy stakeholders to join the going solar seminar series to learn about the resources available through the District’s partnership with EnergySage. Visit DOEE online for more information.
DPW Job Fair
Wednesday, June 8, 2022 from 12:00pm to 5:00pm
North Michigan Park Recreation Center (1333 Emerson St NE, Washington, DC 20017)
The DC Department of Public Works is happy to announce that we will host a DPW job fair on Wednesday, June 8 at the North Michigan Park recreation center. DPW will screen qualified applicants for motor vehicle operator vacant positions. Individuals interested in tow truck driver positions should bring their:
Valid Commercial Driver’s License (Class B)
DOT Medical Certificate
Resume highlighting their tow truck driver experience.
To view all DPW vacant positions visit DCHR. DC.GOV. For more information, please contact DPW Human Resources at 202-671-2400
|
|
We Want to Connect with You
ORE is always looking for ways to work with, learn from, collaborate with community members to advance racial equity in the District!
|
|
|
|
|
