Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed into law the recommendations of the Equitable Community Initiative Working Group (ECITF) on August 11-providing $30 million in investment to address the long-term inequality and difference. ECITF has guided the largest autonomous effort in New York City’s history to fund strategies that help improve outcomes for Black, Aboriginal, and Colored People (BIPOC) communities.
“Seattle has reached another milestone, furthering our commitment to solving the generational errors that continue to endanger our communities of color. Out of the painful period following the murder of George Floyd, these community leaders started to work. , Using the collective power of community voices to develop strategies to improve lives,” Durkan said.
The 26-member ECITF’s proposal focuses on four areas or “pillars”-enterprise, which will receive 7.5 million dollars; education, 7.5 million dollars; housing, 8.8 million dollars; and health, 6.2 million dollars.
As part of the 2021 budget proposal, Durkan pledged to invest $100 million to address the huge differences endured by the BIPOC community and caused by systemic racism and institutionalized oppression. Durkan initiated the ECITF-a diverse group of people of color representing community leaders in various industries including the arts, business, healthcare, education, food, and environmental justice-to lead the process of developing recommendations.
The task force has full autonomy to identify priority areas. ν
