Justice, Equity & Diversity: Equity and Inclusion Officers implement projects in 2024

December 6, 2024 2:41 PM
by Lisa Parson, Delana Gbenekama

Santa Monica is committed to addressing past harms, breaking down systemic barriers and advancing equity for all our community members. One important aspect of this work is the city’s Equity and Inclusion Officers program.

Equity and Inclusion Officers, or EIOs, are a diverse group of city employees who serve as departmental liaisons and ambassadors, promoting and sharing opportunities to effectuate systemic and sustainable change. They work with their department’s leadership to identify equity priorities and then develop actionable policy recommendations and trainings.

EIOs apply and are then appointed to serve a one-year term, during which they spend 10 to 15 hours per month on equity activities, including representing their department at monthly Racial Equity Committee meetings, participating in required training and working with their department leadership to move equity forward within their department.

Each year brings a new group of EIOs and new projects dedicated to advancing equity.

Below are some of the projects the EIOs have worked on in 2024.

Complete

Ongoing 

Citywide, the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team is nearing completion of the city's first Citywide Equity Plan. The plan, built from a foundation of community input and informed with departmental resources and priorities, will be presented to the City Council for adoption in early 2025.

Learn more about the city’s equity work here.

Authored By

Lisa Parson
Project Manager

Delana Gbenekama
Equity and Communications Program Manager

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