The City of Oakland has been named a finalist for the National Civic League's All-America City Award. The City's application focused on the formation of the Department of Race and Equity (DRE) in 2016 to address racial disparities by working across city departments to develop policies and procedures that embed fairness and justice in the delivery of services.
Impressive examples of the impact of this work include:
- The City of Oakland Capital Improvement Program, which aims to address racial inequities in infrastructure investments
- The efforts of the Inclusive Community Engagement Workgroup to advance equitable outreach best practices
- The intentional approach to infusing equity into the City’s General Plan Update
"I'm so proud of Oakland's Race and Equity team and all of our hardworking staff, who put together a strong application to earn this prestigious recognition, said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. "Oakland shows every day that we are leading the way to a more just and equitable society, and recognition as a finalist for the All-America Cities Award reflects the community's commitment to working together for a better future."
“It is a privilege to support city departments as they strive to implement life-giving system change to advance equitable outcomes in Oakland communities,” said DRE Director Darlene Flynn.
Finalists were selected after a competitive review process based on the criteria of shared vision, civic engagement, inclusiveness and equity, collaboration, innovation, and impact. Each finalist submitted a robust application discussing the strengths of their civic capital and providing examples of three community-driven efforts that have adapted and transformed the community.
The 75th annual All-America City Award Event and Competition will be in Denver, CO, June 7-9.
The City of Oakland joins other finalist communities, representing 11 states ranging in size from 3,000 residents to over 700,000. The finalists share a common bond of building the capacity of residents to actively participate in civic life and have a meaningful say in decisions.
About the National Civic League’s All-America City Award
For 75 years, the National Civic League’s All-America City Award has uncovered, celebrated, and disseminated the finest examples of American civic innovation by inviting communities across the country to apply for recognition based on the strength of their civic capital – the formal and informal relationships, networks and capacities that enable communities to solve problems and thrive.
More about Oakland's nomination: https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/2024-all-america-city-finalist-oakland-ca/
Video: https://youtu.be/A7SKMEWHU9w
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