1. Last night, we hosted an important conversation about race, equity, and the vast disparities suffered by African Americans in Oakland compared to white residents. The conversation was difficult. 
2. We met in a library in East Oakland to discuss the city’s first-ever Equity Indicators Report, a 167-page document that measures and quantifies what we know – that inequity exists in many areas of our city: public safety, housing, health, education, etc.
3. In our meeting, some residents wanted to know how collecting this data will improve their lives. Some expressed frustration. They wanted more people in the conversation and they wanted a concrete plan to stop gentrification.
4. Others offered ideas: Perhaps make “equity requirements” for contractors who do business with the city? Or create a volunteer team for the city’s newly-formed Department of Race and Equity.
5. Our conversation was not linear, not always solution-based, and not always comfortable. And that’s why we gathered: To practice. We need to practice talking about structural racism and how our city can undo it, Oakland.
6. Two years ago, we prioritized equity and went after a grant to make Oakland the only city in California – and just one of five in the country – to conduct an Equity Indicators Report. We wanted this data. We want to be held accountable.
7. If we’re going disassemble institutionalized racism, then we need to expose it. We need to understand it, measure it, and then use our political will to fix it. It’s not easy and it hasn’t been done before.
8. It will be a learning process to make changes to our city through an equity lens. It starts with this report, and it continued last night in a small room in a library in East Oakland. Now let’s keep it going.
9. The next meetings are 7/24 at West Oakland Public Library 5:30 p.m. and 7/31 at City Hall 7 p.m. Here’s a link to the report: bit.ly/2KVVwd7
Let's do this together, Oakland.
Let's do this together, Oakland.
