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2023-2025 Racial Equity Strategic Plan (RESP)
In the Commission’s Racial Equity Strategic Plan, we acknowledge that legacies of racially biased systems and policies continue to inform racial inequities in housing that impact communities of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), and identify opportunities for our agency to proactively address systemic and cultural barriers in both our internal and external practices.
Explore the Plan:
Guiding Principles for the Plan
Our Mission, Vision, and Values
How the Plan & Mission, Vision, and Values were Developed
Plan Focus Areas:
Internal Focus Areas
Culture & Restorative Healing
Create a work environment of trust, support for, and validation of all employees representing WSHFC. Promote restorative healing and address organizational, race-informed trauma in support of BIPOC employees.
Leadership & Staff Development
Build the capacity, skills and awareness of our leaders, managers and staff to model/exemplify racial equity and antiracist leadership practices, both to ensure a firm foundation for our work and to support BIPOC employees.
Internal Data-gathering
Develop information and data-gathering processes to learn about past and ongoing experiences of WSHFC staff, especially BIPOC staff, so we can better support their success and advancement.
Internal Policy Revision
Review and revise all our internal policies to ensure their impacts are equitable.
DEI Director Recruitment
Recruit a DEI Administrator/Director to serve as a member of the Executive Management Team. This new position will report to the executive director, hold decision-making power and advise and guide leadership and staff as we work toward our racial equity and antiracist goals.
External Focus Areas
Community Engagement
Increase community/public engagement, outreach, and data-gathering. Invite and foster community and public engagement.
Communications
Design and implement an internal and external-facing communications strategy to share our racial equity and antiracism priorities and progress with stakeholders.
Resource Accessibility
Increase access to our resources for BIPOC communities, organizations, developers and residents by actively removing barriers.
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Five core principles were developed to guide us in the racial equity strategic planning process.
Collaboration
Seek opportunities to work across divisions and teams to maximize our potential to realize our racial equity goals
Connection & Communication
Create opportunities to communicate with one another within our teams and across divisions about challenges and triumphs we are experiencing as we implement racial equity actions, steps, and processes and encourage shared learning and growth.
Valuing Diverse Perspectives
Validate, acknowledge and be responsive to all voices and experiences representing our agency internally as well as the external communities we serve.
Transparency
Communicate about our divisional racial equity efforts with openness, consistency, and authenticity.
Shared Accountability
Hold us accountable for our division and agency-wide racial equity efforts and dedicate time to an intentional focus on our respective and collective progress.
WHO DEVELOPED THIS PLAN?
Over two years, all-staff, steering committees, leadership teams, and consultant Dr. Carmen Phelps collaboratively developed the Commission’s Racial Equity Strategic Plan. Through committee meetings, team sessions, all-staff convenings, and feedback gatherings, the plan took shape. This initiative marks the first collaboration of its kind at the Commission, where staff and leadership shared investment and power throughout the process. Shortly after recruitment, the plan was further refined with the expertise of our first ever DEI Director.
Staff and Teams:
Nashika Stanbro, DEI Director
In May of 2024, our newly hired DEI Director played a crucial role in refining our Racial Equity Strategic Plan.
RESP Project Team
Made up of six staff members and leadership to develop an internal accountability tracker.
RESP Strategic Planning Committee
Made up of twelve staff members and leadership, alongside all-staff and consultant to develop the Racial Equity Strategic Plan.
Mission, Vision, Values Committee
Made up of twelve staff members and leadership, alongside all-staff and consultant to develop the revised Mission, Vision, and Values.
CONNECT WITH US
Here are ways you can connect with us about the racial equity strategic plan and progress.
Commission Meetings
You may attend board meetings in-person or virtually. We will be reporting out quarterly on DEI efforts. A schedule is to come.
Meeting dates and agendas are here: Board Meeting Schedule
General questions or feedback?
Contact
Nashika Stanbro, DEI Director
Nashika.stanbro@wshfc.org