Celebrating 50 Years of Equity

​Facing the camera from left to right: Lt. Governor, Denny Heck; Former Representative, Jesse Wineberry; and Former Governor, Dan Evans.

​On August 27 the Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA), a pro-affirmative action non-profit, organized a reenactment of the signing of Executive Order (EO) 72-07 in the Washington Legislative Building. Former Governor Dan Evans, soon to celebrate his 97th birthday, was on hand to reenact his historic signing of the EO that brought affirmative action to Washington State.

Other attendees included Lieutenant Governor, Denny Heck; Former Washington State Representative, Jesse Wineberry; Winona Hollins-Hauge; Hazel and Nat Jackson; Julia Bobadilla-Melby; Delbert Richardson; Rev. Lem Charleston; Sharon and Cornelius Winesberry; Eric Silvers; and BUILD's very own, Dennis Worrell.
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The event marked 50 years of affirmative action in Washington State and reminds us of recent Executive Orders signed by our current Governor, Jay Inslee, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Those include Equity in Public Contracting (22-01), Equity in State Government (22-02), and Implementing the Washington State Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Plan & Playbook (22-04).
 
According to an entry on Governor Inslee's official blog elements of the PEAR effort will appear in a “cabinet-wide community summit” in October of this year.
 
By Dennis Worrell