Equity at Lane County:
Equity means ensuring that every person—regardless of their sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, language, ability, gender, gender identity, age, religion, economic status, or background—has fair and just access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. It recognizes that different people face different barriers, and it requires removing those barriers to create a level playing field.
In alignment with federal civil rights laws, including the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, Title VI, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Lane County is committed to upholding equity as a core value and legal obligation.
Equity is how we make sure that everyone—no exceptions—has the chance to fully participate in public programs, services, and democracy.
Equity supports the promise that all people should have the opportunity to pursue their goals, contribute to our shared future and belong. By addressing existing barriers, Lane County helps ensure that every individual has access to the public services we provide.
How we are going about this work:
Collective Liberation: This work benefits us all
Lane County firmly commits to advancing equity, inclusive of racial equity. In an era of division and constrained resources, we champion a targeted universalism approach. This approach sets an ambitious goal that benefits everybody and increases success for all groups, and then uses different strategies and investments based on where groups of people are situated within society.
Our focus on achieving equity and the use of a targeted universalism approach fosters a united front toward equity across communities, transcending differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, age, and other intersecting identities. By steering clear of the zero-sum narrative we unite in our pursuit of justice and equity, acknowledging that collective liberation benefits us all.
Belonging and Bridging Processes: Strengthening Democracy
Lane County aspires to be a county where everyone belongs.
a place where all employees feel valued, welcomed, and can contribute to their fullest.
a place where all people who live, work, and play can experience care, have a voice and equal access to services.
Our unwavering dedication lies in fostering belonging and in bridging divides across diverse backgrounds. Beyond representation, we actively cultivate dialogue, understanding, and collaboration among individuals with differing perspectives. We're committed to creating spaces for open and constructive conversations, where diverse voices converge to address complex challenges. We envision and actively work towards a culture of belonging without othering.
DEI Data Collection Governance: Measuring Progress for Transformation
To actualize these aspirations, we embark on establishing a robust Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) data collection governance model. This model will be the compass guiding our progress, uncovering disparities, and ensuring our strategies are rooted in data-driven effectiveness. Employing targeted universalism strategies, we will design, measure, and track our progress to ensure the effectiveness of our efforts. In the next three years, Lane County invites you to join us on this transformative journey toward equity, and collective liberation. Together, we will build bridges, and forge a future where everyone thrives.
2024-2027 Equity Strategic Plan (view document here)
Context: The Equity Strategic Plan builds on our ongoing commitment to advancing
equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. It aims to propel Lane County further toward more
equitable governance, transitioning from our current Racial Equity Plan to the 2024-2027 Equity
Strategic Plan.
It's important not to
perceive every goal, strategy, or tactic as an entirely new idea; rather, view it as a comprehensive
roadmap that focuses on bringing these various efforts together. Embracing a collective impact
approach, this plan acknowledges that some strategies and initiatives may not be solely driven by
the equity program and instead driven by other teams. Therefore, the perspectives and
contributions of these individuals and teams were centered in creating this plan.
Process and Timeline: The 2024-2027 Equity Strategic Plan was collaboratively developed by various Lane
County employees and groups. The plan is set for adoption in Fiscal Year 2024 (July) with a
goal to complete it by the end of Fiscal Year 2027. An annual review will be presented to our
executive leadership team to monitor progress.
Goals
- Align our county-wide equity efforts.
- Use disaggregated data to measure progress of equity efforts and for decision-making.
- Cultivate a culture in which all employees can fully thrive and succeed and address specific needs as identified by the employee survey and other data.
- Secure ongoing financing and effectively resource our equity work across the organization.
- Foster an inclusive and equitable framework for community engagement and civic participation.