Committing to our four Pro-equity Actions

Anita

Message from Anita Whitfield, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer - July 1, 2021

Committing to our four Pro-equity Actions

As you know, the events of 2020 (including the COVID-19 pandemic and the social awakening sparked by the murder of George Floyd) led King County to declare that Racism is a Public Health Crisis

We must move with urgency to address this public health crisis. Our efforts must be stronger than the systems that keep organizational, institutional, and societal racism (and other 'isms') in place. 

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Together, as one King County, we've made great strides to address the public health crisis, which is racism. Yet, we all know there is still much more to do to truly reach our True North – "A King County that is a welcoming community where every person can thrive" – and a beloved King County community where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and all marginalized people live in power, peace, and prosperity. 

One of King County's core values is that ‘we are racially just’ and that ‘we are champions for racial justice.’ We also have more work ahead of us to fully realize this core value.

 We can do this together by committing to these four Pro-equity Actions:

  • Share power
  • Interrupt business as usual
  • Replace it with something better
  • Get comfortable with discomfort

Watch this short video to learn more about how to apply these four Pro-equity Actions in your daily work, and click here to see how the rest of the County is incorporating these actions.

If we focus on these actions and practice them every day, collectively and individually, we will increase the well-being and the true belonging of all King County employees and the communities we serve together.

Lastly, remember everybody is a leader in this work!

Thank you for your servanthood to the people of King County.

Sincerely,

Anita Whitfield (she, her, hers)
Servant & Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer