Realizing Arlington’s Commitment to Equity
Racial inequity affects our present-day lives, but just as importantly, our future. In September 2019, the County Board adopted an Equity Resolution. To further this commitment to equity, Arlington County Government and Arlington Public Schools participated in a 10-month racial equity cohort program convened by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments in partnership with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, specifically identifying racial equity as a priority. This means closing race-based outcome gaps so race does not predict one’s success while improving outcomes for everyone; moving beyond services to focus on policies, institutions and structures. The County puts forward the below framework for a Racial Equity Action Plan to be developed with the community and organization.
VIDEO UPDATES: View the latest on the County’s equity efforts and a framework for moving forward:
ANNUAL REPORT:
Vision
An equitable Arlington is one where all are valued, educated, healthy and safe regardless of race.
Mission
As an employee, resident or business in Arlington, advance racial equity as a county-wide priority to eliminate, reduce, and prevent disparities in our policies, procedures practices, engagement, and interaction with and service to the community.
Framework for a Racial Equity Action Plan
Normalize
A shared understanding, knowledge and terminology around racial equity within the organization and among the community.
Racial equity is accepted as an imperative and priority throughout the organization and within the community.
Organize
A sustainable and supported structure to advance racial equity to include personnel and resources that become a defined and integral component of the organization and the system.
Build the capacity of the organization and within the community and commit and dedicate resources to support identified areas of need.
Operationalize
Racial equity is a matter of principle in developing and considering the impact policies, plans, and decisions have on all residents as well as employees.
Use the racial equity lens, tools and disaggregated data to identify where systemic and institutional racism presents itself and make the changes needed to dismantle it.
Assess
Every employee, resident and person who interacts with the County sees themselves in the work, the process, the system and structure.
Evaluate where we are, what we have done and how we are doing; what things do we need to change, adjust and how we evolve overtime to respond to changes in the workforce, culture, and community.
Equity Lens
Ultimate measure of success is when racial equity as a value, is what we believe and becomes what we all advance as a matter of practice, standard operating procedure; it is just what we do.
A racial equity lens is defined by the Gemini Company as “a critical thinking exercise to help cultivate and maintain an equity mindset. It is the umbrella under which a Racial Equity Tool is devised and used. It is a means to think about operationalizing Equity.
We ask the below questions to understand whether and where there are racial inequities existing, being created or being exacerbated in a policy, procedure, practice or program whether we are developing it or modifying it.
UPDATED - Race and Ethnicity Dashboard
The Race and Ethnicity Dashboard has been updated with the 2020 American Community Survey (ACS) estimates released in March 2022. The dashboard now includes trend data, showing the changes between 2010 to 2020—and splits the 22 variables into thematic categories by demographic, household, and labor force data. There are also new maps that display geographic shifts in population. Explore the latest update
Race and History Timelines
Acknowledging the racialized origins and policies of United States history is fundamental for communities to gain knowledge and understanding of racial equity. The following timelines document key historical events in Arlington County related to housing, education, community facilities, public safety, transportation, urban planning, public infrastructure, and more. Learn more or check out the timelines below.
1930-1945
1946-1960
1961-1975
Tools and Resources
Racial Equity Data and Demographics