Advancing Equity
The League of California Cities doesn't just advocate for the common interest of cities. It also helps city officials lead on challenging issues their communities face by providing education and resources that focus on promising strategies and new solutions. In June 2020, the Cal Cities Board of Directors issued a statement committing to the creation of an equitable and just future for all Californians. Cal Cities is dedicated to supporting its members by connecting them to resources and educational opportunities that strengthen their knowledge and capacity to eliminate racial disparities, heal racial divisions, and build more equitable communities. Below, is a list of foundational resources, which will grow as we deepen our knowledge and breadth in this space.
Advancing Equity Community
We are excited to announce the Cal Cities Advancing Equity Community where members can connect with one another to share information and resources. The new tool enables city officials to post information, give feedback, share resources, and interact with other city leaders on diversity, equity, and inclusion within cities. This community is open to all Cal Cities members. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Meghan McKelvey. Sign up now >
Equity Roadmap
Resources for Cities
Free to watch
- Advancing Racial Equity: An Introduction - Cal Cities and the National League of Cities REAL Department set the stage for the work necessary to expand city leaders' knowledge and capacity to eliminate racial disparities, heal racial divisions, and build more equitable communities. Cal Cities webinar originally offered Aug. 27, 2020.
- Advancing Racial Equity: A Discussion - Cities across the nation are grappling with frustration, outrage, and grief stemming from the effects of systemic racism. Join leadership from the National League of Cities REAL Department and three California city leaders for a discussion on how they are building more equitable and just cities. Keynote panel discussion originally offered at the League of California Cities Annual Conference and Expo on Oct. 8, 2020.
Learn from other cities in Western City's magazine
The November 2020, December 2021, and December 2022 issues of Western City magazine
highlight efforts to address systemic inequities in city institutions and policies and replace them with systems that are inclusive and fair.
- NLC REAL: The National League of Cities (NLC) Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) program was established in the wake of the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, to strengthen the capacity to build more equitable communities. The REAL department offers tools and resources that help local elected leaders build safe places where people from all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds thrive socially, economically, academically, and physically. Please refer to the following reading list:
- Municipal Action Guide: Advancing Racial Equity in Your City compiles six immediate steps for improving outcomes for all residents.
- Municipal Action Guide: Responding to Racial Tension in Your City provides important contextual and tactical information to support your municipality’s efforts to respond effectively.
- Repository of City Racial Equity Policies and Decision includes examples of concrete policy and budgetary changes local elected officials have made to prioritize racial equity in their cities and towns.
- Racial Equity Resolution provides a template and talking points that explain why pursuing equity is good for local government.
- The City Leader’s Compass to the My Brother’s Keeper Landscape offers resources for city leaders working to respond to the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge. This publication highlights a comprehensive set of steps cities can take to tackle disparities, change systems, and improve outcomes for boys and young men of color.
- GARE: The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. GARE supports jurisdictions that are at the forefront of work to achieve racial equity; develops a “pathway for entry” into racial equity work for new jurisdictions; and builds local and regional collaborations that are inclusive and focused on achieving racial equity.
- Race Forward: Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. The organization conducts original research on pressing racial justice issues ranging from immigration to economic inequality.
- ICMA Race, Equity, and Social Justice: Materials curated by the International City Managers Association (ICMA), along with reports and surveys that describe approaches that have an impact and provide the opportunity to learn from the experiences of others.
- Mayors and Business Leaders Center for Compassionate and Equitable Cities: Resources, including ideas, initiatives, toolkits, and reports, by mayors and for mayors and other city leaders.
Chula Vista, Oakland, and Stockton selected to participate in Bloomberg program to advance equity and economic recovery
The California cities participating in the program have diverse populations and are eager to learn about strategies to drive financial recovery and ensure that their budget crises do not disproportionately harm low-income residents and communities of color.
“Chula Vista has a large Spanish-speaking and diverse socio-economic population, and we are always working to ensure there is equity in our budgeting and operational processes,” said Ed Prendell, Budget and Analysis Manager for the city of Chula Vista. “We’re really excited to participate in this program and learn how other cities are addressing these critical issues. We also look forward to the dialogue about how municipalities are dealing with rising pension costs, as that is another pressing issue facing our city.”
According to a League of California Cities data analysis released earlier this year, California cities face a $7 billion revenue shortfall over the next two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response, which is growing by billions of dollars as public safety measures continue.
“Through the Bloomberg Philanthropies program, we hope to build upon our COVID-19 response which covers a range of challenges from housing and food distribution, to small business grants, and financial assistance for individual households,” said Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs. “We hope that through the technical knowhow of the Bloomberg team, we will find innovative solutions that will give our residents the help they need in a way that is cost effective and helps sustain our city budget for the months ahead.”
“We are very excited about the opportunity to convene with our peers over the next year as we all wrestle with this unprecedented economic challenge,” said Margaret O’Brien, Interim Finance Director for the city of Oakland. “Our city has been recognized for its work in incorporating an equity lens into our budgeting process, specifically in how we prioritize capital projects. We look forward to learning best practices and gaining insight to refining our equity impact analysis so that we are both preserving and improving services for the communities most in need.”
The program, which runs from October 2020 to December 2021, enables leaders from 30 U.S. cities to share resources, get feedback on ideas, and produce a set of tactics for other local leaders to follow. Specifically, it is designed to provide mayors, chief financial officers, and budget directors in cities with populations between 100,000 and 1,000,000 residents with tools to ensuring an equity analysis is built into addressing incredibly complicated fiscal decisions.
The Cal Cities #LocalWorks initiative shines the spotlight on examples of local actions that are making a difference to their communities. Show how #LocalWorks in your community by contacting communications@calcities.org.