City of Seattle - Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force
Purpose:
The Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force (ECITF) presented Mayor Jenny Durkan with recommendations investing $30 million in Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities to address the deep disparities caused by systemic racism and institutionalized oppression. On September 29, 2020, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced a budget commitment of $100 million in new spending intended to reduce disproportionate impacts on BIPOC communities. The ECTIF was formed to provide guidance through a comprehensive investment proposal.
The ECITF is a diverse group of 25+ community leaders with deep connections and interests representing a cross-section of nonprofit, business, faith and civic industries addressing social justice, economic development, labor, food justice, education, health care, homelessness, climate justice, and LGBTQIA+ rights.
Collaboration:
Sankofa Consulting, in partnership with The Profitable Nonprofit, facilitated the journey of the ECITF from the analysis phase to the final investment proposal. This included:
A process to gain a deep understanding of the context and priorities of the group and identify any gaps in the data or materials needed to aid the recommendation process.
A strategic planning framework that emphasized examining four dimensions; Problem definition, Target population identification, identification of program Levers and the expected Outcomes (PTLO).
City Department presentations were scheduled each week to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing City investments in BIPOC communities including current challenges and successes, and to help inform investment recommendations
A series of community input sessions on behalf of the ECITF for the purposes of public transparency, awareness and buy-in.
A Theory of Change roadmap describing how and why a desired change is anticipated, including what the programs intended to achieve and their expected outcomes. Sankofa’s Managing Director Elvis Fraser served as the technical lead throughout this process.
Final Deliverables:
Nine collective impact investment recommendations accompanied by 18 implementation strategies.
Theory of Change for the programs being implemented