Advancing Equity and Inclusion in Santa Monica
The City of Santa Monica is committed to addressing past harms, breaking down systemic barriers, and advancing equity for all our community members. The City has taken important steps to create internal programs and advance community initiatives focused on racial equity, with the understanding that within each individual effort a myriad of social identities including gender, sexual orientation, class, and ability benefit from the more inclusive policies generated by these efforts.  Our City Council reaffirmed its commitment to this work when it adopted Racial Justice, Equity & Social Diversity as a priority at its March 11, 2023, workshop along with the following statement:  
The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects of generational and institutional racism and discrimination, and its consequences that continue to impact our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The City is committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to improve the wellbeing of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our City and create a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender, disability or other identities. Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive. 
Staff in every department in Santa Monica is tasked with:
- identifying and rectifying the policies, practices, and behaviors that perpetuate racism, discrimination, and other negative racial-based outcomes.
- cultivating an inclusive and fair environment where all people in Santa Monica, in particular disenfranchised communities of color, thrive in the areas of health, economic vitality, and connectedness.
Current Initiatives:
Citywide Equity Plan in the Works
Currently, the City's DEI team is working to develop the Santa Monica's first Citywide Equity Plan. The plan is being built from a foundation of community input and informed with departmental resources and priorities. The DEI team anticipates presenting it to the city council for adoption in spring 2025. We will post the link to the agenda item once it's available. Take a look at what we've learned so far: Fall 2024 Community Equity Priority Feedback Summary
Involvement Opportunity: Apply to Be a Community Connector by March 15, 2025
The DEI team is pleased to announce the launch of the Community Connector Program. The program is designed to strengthen relationships between community members and key identity groups who are less likely to engage with the City of Santa Monica in its more formal processes. The individuals who serve as Community Connectors will help build a bridge between the City of Santa Monica and different demographic groups that we would like to forge stronger connections with by hosting community gatherings and sharing community concerns with the DEI team. Applications to become a Community Connector are open now through March 15. Click here to apply. Community Connectors will receive a stipend for their work.
Involvement Opportunity: Join the Reparations and Land Back Task Force
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Santa Monica – a time that naturally lends itself for self-reflection on both our impressive collective accomplishments over the past 150 years, as well as the mistakes we’ve made along the way. As a part of this reflection process, the city has an incredible opportunity to look at the harm that has been done to our marginalized communities over the course of our history, and to make amends for that harm through a community-driven restorative justice process.
On Feb. 11, the Santa Monica City Council approved moving forward with the creation of the Landback & Reparations Task Force, and now we invite the community and restorative justice experts to be a part of this important work. There are many opportunities to support this important work at a variety of time commitments. In addition to applying for a seat on the Task Force itself, all are invited to apply for one of the sub-committees supporting the work of the Task Force. The application will close on March 21st.To learn more about the task force, click here.
Historical Archives:
Understanding our city's past is essential to shaping a more equitable future. The DEI team is committed to grounding our work in history, examining key events, policies, and records that have shaped our community. As part of this effort, we are publishing historical documents uncovered through research to ensure that our decisions are informed by the realities of the past. We also invite community members to share any historical materials they may have that shed light on our city’s history by emailing socialjustice@santamonica.gov. By working together, we can build a more complete and honest archive—one that helps us learn, reflect, and move forward with greater awareness.
Redlining Santa Monica: In the 1930s, the federal government created redlining maps that systematically denied mortgage access to entire neighborhoods, disproportionately affecting Black residents, immigrants, and other marginalized groups. The Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC) graded neighborhoods based on their perceived financial "security," with predominantly white areas receiving favorable ratings and communities of color labeled as "hazardous" and marked in red. These maps shaped decades of housing discrimination, limiting wealth-building opportunities and contributing to long-term racial disparities that persist today. Click here to see Santa Monica's redlined areas. The legacy of these restrictions lives on today, with the most diverse neighborhood in Santa Monica today being the only neighborhood that people of color were allowed to live in in the past.
Pico Neighborhood History: The Pico neighborhood has been the city's most multiracial area since the 1930s. Click here to read research and see images of the demographic changes in the neighborhood driven by redlining, the development of the 10 freeway, and other major shifts in Santa Monica's development.
Ebony Beach Club: After learning of the Ebony Beach Club's history via descendents of its founder, staff from the City Manager’s Office and the City Attorney's Office have reviewed hundreds of pages of documents to develop a more informed understanding of what happened with the taking of the property that was anticipated to be the home of the Ebony Beach Club. More specifically, staff reviewed news articles, Council resolutions, title records, County assessor records, the Viceroy lease,court documents, and more. These documents provide a window into life and government proceedings of the past and are valuable for those interested in developing a deeper understanding of Santa Monica's past. The document archive for the Ebony Beach Club can be found here.
Past Staff Updates
On May 28, 2024, the DEI team provided an update to the council on the team's work on reparations and restorative justice. Click here to view the agenda item (3E). Click here to watch the presentation to the city council.
Additionally, the DEI team published detailed written updates about their equity work on the dates listed below. Click here to view and download the updates.
- March 27, 2024
- July 7, 2023
- January 25, 2022 (The DEI team also gave a presentation to the city council. Click here to watch).
Past Council Actions
July 18, 2023
The council reviewed and commented on the FY 2023-24 equity plan for the DEI team and directed the DEI team to proceed with the implementation of the plan. Click here to view the staff report. Click here to watch the video of the council presentation.
August 24, 2021
The council authorized the transfer of $100,000 to the Santa Monica Black Lives Association (now called the Santa Monica Black Empowerment Association) to support its efforts to address the health, wellness, mental health, and socioeconomic needs of the Black community. Click here to view the staff report.
Sept. 8, 2020
The city council advanced City of Santa Monica support for the creation of the Santa Monica Black Lives Association (now called the Santa Monica Black Empowerment Association), a nonprofit designed by Black community leaders to support Black Santa Monicans, approved Equity and Inclusion Officers for every City department, adopted a racial equity statement for Santa Monica and advanced broad steps toward police reform, including the creation of a Police Commission—the first of its kind in Santa Monica. Click here to read a summary of the council's action on this item. Click here to view the staff report. Click here to watch the council presentation.
The city council approved the following:
- allocating $25,000 of its discretionary funds to develop and implement the Black Agenda
- directing staff to make changes to the We Are Santa Monica Fund to permit the acceptance of donations to support the development and implementation of the Black Agenda
- creating an option for donors to earmark up to 100 percent of their donations to the fund for the development and implementation of the Black Agenda
- allocating 10 percent of unrestricted donations to the development and implementation of the Black Agenda
Click here to view the agenda item (13B). Click here to watch the council meeting.
June 9, 2020
The city council directed staff to support community leaders in creating a Black Agenda to address systemic racism in Santa Monica and to take action to eradicate system racism within the City of Santa Monica government and to implement the Black Agenda. Click here to view the agenda item (13B). Click here to watch the council meeting.
Get Involved
Check back here regularly for workshops, forums, and other opportunities to get involved.
- Applications for Community Connector Program open through Feb. 15, 2025: The DEI team is accepting applications for its Community Connectors Program. The program is designed to strengthen relationships between community members and key identity groups who are less likely to engage with the City of Santa Monica in its more formal processes. The individuals who serve as Community Connectors will help build a bridge between the City of Santa Monica and different demographic groups that we would like to forge stronger connections with by hosting community gatherings and sharing community concerns with the DEI team. Applications to become a Community Connector are open now through February 15. Click here to apply. Community Connectors will receive a stipend for their work.
- Santa Monica Black Empowerment Association (formerly the Santa Monica Black Lives Association): View the organization's website to learn more at smbea.org.
- Santa Monica Black Agenda: To learn more about the group, contact the Black Agenda Steering Committee, chaired by Ericka Lesley, at santamonicablackagenda@gmail.com.
- Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission: Click here to view the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission's website and agendas. If you have ideas about public safety reform, contact PublicSafetyReform@smgov.net.
- Equity Ideas: If you have ideas around increasing equity, contact the DEI team at socialjustice@santamonica.gov
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