Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Washington County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative
Washington County’s mission is to provide excellent and cost-effective services that support healthy, peaceful, safe and sustainable communities; and encourage meaningful participation in community activities and County governance. To help meet these challenges, the County launched its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, a two-to-five-year process to deliver equitable outcomes throughout the County’s programs, budgets, decision-making and service delivery.
Feedback requested for proposed Equity Resolution
In their efforts to advance racial equity in Washington County, the Board of Com
missioners has engaged with various stakeholders and subject matter experts to develop a draft diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) resolution which is now ready for public comment.
In Washington County, a resolution adopted by the Board of County Commissioners serves as a pledge or documented commitment to act. Typically, a resolution has two parts. The beginning section, identified with “whereas,” allows the Board to recognize and acknowledge existing and historical conditions. The second portion, identified with “therefore,” is their commitment to action.
Community feedback regarding the Equity Resolution is important to ensure that a meaningful and relevant resolution is created to guide future work toward an inclusive and equitable community for all. All Washington County residents are encouraged to read the resolution and respond by taking a short survey to help the Board develop a final DEI resolution in February 2020.
Respuesta Solicitada para la Propuesta de Resolución sobre la Equidad
En sus esfuerzos por promover la equidad racial en el Condado de Washington, la Junta de Comisionados se ha comprometido con varias partes interesadas y expertos en la materia para desarrollar un proyecto de resolución sobre diversidad, equidad e inclusión (DEI) que ahora está listo 
para los comentarios públicos.
En el Condado de Washington, una resolución adoptada por la Junta de Comisionados del Condado sirve como una promesa o compromiso documentado para actuar. Típicamente, una resolución tiene dos partes. La sección inicial, identificada con "considerando," permite al Consejo identificar y reconocer las condiciones existentes e históricas. La segunda parte, identificada con "por lo tanto," es su compromiso con la acción.
La respuesta de la comunidad con respecto a la Resolución de Equidad es importante para asegurar que se cree una resolución significativa y relevante que guíe el trabajo futuro hacia una comunidad inclusiva y equitativa para todos. Se anima a todos los residentes del Condado de Washington a leer la resolución y responder con una breve encuesta para ayudar a la Junta a desarrollar una resolución final de la DEI en febrero de 2020.
Background
The County’s DEI initiative is propelled by previous work by community advocates and partner organizations, such as Centro Cultural, Adelante Mujeres, the Coalition of Communities of Color and Vision Action Network. These and many others have contributed to Washington County’s awareness of disparate outcomes, particularly along racial and ethnic lines, that have long existed within Washington County.
In 2016, the Coalition of Communities of Color launched a research project to:
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create a proactive effort to bring racial justice to Washington County so that every community flourishes, and
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unite people and stakeholders across the County in collective action for the advancement of racial justice and community-building.
In 2018, the Coalition released its extensive report, “Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County,” which details:
- the lived experiences of eight communities of color and ethnic groups in Washington County,
- data snapshots of four jurisdictions within the County that identify key socio-economic outcomes for communities of color living in those cities, and
- a Call to Action that implores readers to take recommended actions based on the findings in this report.
Previous work by County staff and leadership also contribute to this important work. In 2018, the County Administrative Office (CAO) convened the DEI Think Tank, a group of CAO, Community Engagement and Support Services staff tasked with identifying strategies to develop a more diverse workforce and create a more inclusive organizational culture, with a focus on the County’s human resources and procurement programs and systems.
The Think Tank’s work resulted in several recommendations which the Washington County Board of Commissioners accepted on March 19, 2019.
Both the Coalition and the Think Tank recommended that the County create and implement the DEI initiative with methods focused on operationalizing racial equity across the County.
Where we are now
In addition to internal, ongoing staff-led equity work, the Board of Commissioners has begun working with a DEI and community engagement consulting firm, Espousal Strategies, to enrich their leadership capacity and provide technical assistance for creating a county-wide equity policy and resolution. In addition to executive coaching, Espousal will also conduct extensive interviews with staff and community partners to inform the Board’s leadership development and their vision for racial equity.
On September 17, the Board received an update on Espousal’s work to date, including structured interviews with the Board Chair’s DEI team.
The County’s first-ever staff Equity Committee convened on September 19 to begin providing recommendations to County leaders about DEI needs and strategies.
What's next
In the coming months, more detail will be provided about Washington County’s DEI initiative, including information about the work of the Board of Commissioners, collaboration with community partners and staff-led efforts to operationalize diversity, equity and inclusion across all aspects of the County’s public service mission.
Please direct any questions or feedback to CPO@co.washington.or.us or call 503-846-6288.
Resources
Foundational documents
- Recommendation to Board of Commissioners for Internal DEI Efforts | DEI Think Tank (March 2019)
- Washington County Strategic Plan | 2020
- Washington County Affirmative Action Plan
- Leading with Race: Research Justice in Washington County | Coalition of Communities of Color (2018). Executive Summary and Full Report available online.
