The Equity & Inclusion Department will look within all aspects of City government to closely examine policies, practices, budget allocations, and programs that may perpetuate institutional racism and systemic inequities.
The department is responsible for:
Assessment of the racial equity and inclusion efforts within City government.
Development and implementation of an Equity Plan.
Development and implementation of equity and inclusion training for City staff.
Monitoring City equity efforts and initiatives.
Reporting outcomes of the Equity Plan.
Learn More About Our Work
Advancing Racial Equity in the City of Durham: Our Approach
Normalize, Organize, Operationalize
We are:
Normalizing conversations about race and equity
Organizing to do racial equity work
And operationalizing by implementing our plan and visualizing the future we will create together
We Are Normalizing Conversations About Racial Equity by: Creating Common Understanding
Establishing a shared language
Creating vision & mission statements
Training city staff
Acknowledging the role of government in creating inequities
Our Racial Equity Vision:
Durham is a vibrant community in which all residents and employees thrive with power and purpose. Racial equity is an embedded principle, shared economic prosperity is a reality, and race is not a predictor of outcomes
Our Racial Equity Mission:
The City of Durham intentionally identifies racial inequities, engages the community, and uses a collaborative approach in creating solutions, to ensure race no longer stands as a determinant of outcomes and opportunities
We are Organizing for Racial Equity by: Putting People in Place to Do the Work
Equity & Inclusion Department
Racial Equity Core Team
Racial Equity Implementation Team
Departmental Racial Equity Teams
We Are Organizing for Racial Equity by: Building Capacity
Developing a racial equity action plan
Training city staff
Creating racial equity decision making models
Building data analysis skills
City of Durham Racial Equity Action Plan Focus
Workforce Equity
Communications & Engagement
Contracting & Procurement
Racial Equity Tools & Training
We Are Operationalizing Racial Equity by: Taking Action
Focusing our efforts on creating access and opportunity
Implementing the racial equity action plan
Utilizing training and tools to integrate explicit consideration of racial equity in decision making
Working to remove systemic barriers and create more equitable outcomes for all
Our Racial Equity Decision Making Tool:
The Questions That Inform Our Decisions
What is being considered? What are the desired results and outcomes?
What is the data? What does the data tell us? Who will this benefit? Who will it burden?
Have we heard from the whole community? What does the community want?
What are the unintended consequences? What are our strategies to mitigate harm?
The Contract & Compliance Division is responsible for the implementation of the City’s Equal Business Opportunity Program (EBOP) and Small Local Business Enterprise Program (SLBEP).
City Manager Wanda Page has named John Allore as the new director of the Budget & Management Services Department and Sharon Williams as the new director of the Equity & Inclusion Department. Both appointments are effective immediately. Read on...
Starting March 28, eligible Durham residents who are in the market to buy their first home can apply for up to $20,000 for down payment and closing cost assistance from a new City of Durham program. Read on...
The City of Durham is one of the first 50 cities to achieve Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities Certification in recognition of its use of data and evidence to guide decision-making. Learn more about the work that earned this designation. Read on...
Service request:
Click or call 919-560-1200