Last year, Mayor Ed Murray launched Seattle’s Equity & Environment Initiative (EEI), a partnership of the City, the community, several city departments, and local and national foundations to deepen Seattle’s commitment to race and social justice in environmental work.
One of the key principles of equity and environmental justice is that those most-affected by environmental inequities are able to participate in decision‐making, program design, and oversight. As part of the EEI, OSE convened a Community Partners Steering Committee of individuals who have expertise in a variety of environmental justice subject matters and also in engaging communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and limited-English proficiency individuals. The steering committee is working alongside OSE staff to engage communities and develop long-term recommendations and early actions of the initiative.
The Community Partners Steering Committee created Environmental Justice Guiding Principles for the initiative, are drafting recommendations for the Equity and Environment Agenda, and are leading the initial approach for inclusive community engagement.
Through the Equity & Environment initiative, the City of Seattle is lifting up community based solutions and creating opportunities for people of color, immigrants, refugees, people with low incomes, and individuals with limited-English proficiency to be leaders of Seattle’s environmental movement.
Learn more about the members of EEI’s Community Partners Steering Committee here: