social justice and equity commission recruitment

Community Members are invited to apply online by January 14, 2022: olympiawa.gov/advisory
For more information about recruitment contact Olivia Salazar de Breaux: [email protected]

The purpose of the Social Justice & Equity Commission is to "eliminate racism and fulfill human rights for a just and equitable Olympia for all people."

The Commission will serve as a welcoming place to file complaints on  racial, social justice, human rights violations, and other forms of discrimination, and where people will be provided transparent investigation and resolution of these complaints. The commission will also connect community members to resources and assistance in navigating city or state systems, participate in community-wide education and outreach on equity and racial justice, and ultimately enable those from historically marginalized communities to have a voice in City government.

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Membership Requirements:
Membership for the Commission is intentionally left broad and inclusive to eliminate barriers and encourage the participation of community members who are interested in serving but have little or no experience in City government. For that reason, members must meet the following qualification:

• Reside or work within the city limits of Olympia

Members must commit to regular attendance at Commission meetings and to fulfilling the additional duties that may require time outside of meetings.

Desired Commissioner Characteristics:

• Commission membership should be representative of reasonably broad cross-section of the residents of community including education, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, and geographic identification.
• Commit to serving with integrity and honesty.
• Understand, have experience in, or a strong desire and willingness to learn about discrimination and issues related to racial, social justice, human rights, or other forms of discrimination.
• Effectively participate on a diverse team to independently investigate claims of racial discrimination, social justice, or human rights violations within the City of Olympia. 
• Be open to learn about City government polices and procedures. 

As a newly established Commission, the first-year work plan will focus on developing processes to carry out its duties. The Commission's full scope includes:
 
Mediation & Investigation:

• Receive complaints within the Commission's jurisdiction
• Mediate, conciliate, and investigate complaints of unlawful discrimination and issues related to racial, social justice, human rights, or other forms of discrimination
• Connect people directly to the appropriate entity to address the complaint and/or receive additional resources
• Review the findings of an investigation, determine whether to conduct a hearing, and issue a decision as needed

 
Advisory:

• Provide recommendations to Council and City leadership on policy, planning, operations, and complaint findings to eliminate racial discrimination and systemic barriers to achieving equitable outcomes for all community members
• Give voice to the perspectives and needs of marginalized community members and the impacts of City decision-making on those groups
• Provide guidance to the City's Equity & Inclusion  staff in  outreach and education  regarding  racial equity and the work of the Commission and City

 
Outreach:

• Recruit a diverse pool of potential appointees for vacant Commission positions
• Elevate the voices, perspectives, and needs of marginalized community members through annual listening sessions
• Align their annual work plan with the highest and most impactful needs of the community
• Ensure community members who are less familiar with the City, or who feel distrust towards the City, understand what the Commission is, including its role and services

Time Commitment in person or virtual meetings: The Social Justice and Equity Commission will meet as a full group once a month, and there may be additional meetings as part of subcommittee work. Each meeting will last at least two hours.
Commissioners will be paid a stipend of $25 (or $50 for low-income) per meeting.
 
Outside of meetings: There will generally be one to two hours of reading or other preparation ahead of meetings.

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