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A RESOLUTION expressing the regional policy committee's commitment to equity and social justice.

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                     WHEREAS, King County is a great place to live, learn, work and play, with a robust economy, stunning natural beauty, thriving cultural and arts scene and rich diversity by race and ethnicity, and

                     WHEREAS, despite those strengths, there are persistent inequities by race and place for many community conditions and systems, such as strong neighborhoods, healthy local foods, quality education, early childhood development, the law and justice system, health and human services and affordable housing, and

                     WHEREAS, systemic and institutional racism are barriers for Black, Indigenous and People of Color that extends beyond police brutality to the health and wellness of our communities, and

                     WHEREAS, the King County council unanimously adopted Ordinance 16948, which is also referred to as the Equity and Social Justice Ordinance, in 2010, defining equity for the county and identifying determinants of equity and priorities for government in advancing equity, and

                     WHEREAS, racism has prevented communities of color from equitable access to the social determinants of equity to include affordable housing, health care, food security, the justice system, education, jobs and livable wages, to reach their full potential and thrive, and

                     WHEREAS, the 2016-2022 King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan is a blueprint for action and change and aims to expand access to opportunity in eight areas, including child and youth development, economic development and jobs, environment and climate, health and human services, housing, information and technology, the justice system and transportation and mobility, and

                     WHEREAS, the regional policy committee reviews and recommends regional policies and plans, including health and human services, open space, affordable housing and homelessness, review of county-wide levy plans, solid waste management, economic development, road investments, criminal justice, emergency management planning, jails and district court services and the siting of regional facilities;

                     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the King County regional policy committee:

                     A.  The regional policy committee commits to ensuring that its decisions, policies and practices produce gains for all, while targeting many of the benefits where needs are greatest.

                     B.  The regional policy committee seeks a King County where race and place are eliminated as predictors of prosperity and quality of life for the residents of King County.

                     C.  The regional policy committee commits to engaging in its work using the shared values of equity and social justice described in the 2016-2022 King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan.  Those values include:

                     1.  Inclusive and collaborative.  The committee recognizes that policies that are developed by engaging and including communities and employees early, continuously, and meaningfully will achieve better outcomes.  The committee supports policies and actions that work to break down silos and that partner and convene across government and organizations;

                       2.  Diverse and people-focused.  The committee seeks to represent the mosaic of our communities to better serve and nurture respect and dignity by valuing every person's leadership, strengths and assets;

                       3.  Responsive and adaptive.  The committee seeks to be culturally and linguistically responsive to and driven by employees and community;

                       4.  Transparent and accountable.  The committee seeks to build trust and common understanding by being transparent and accountable in its actions and processes and by supporting clear and accountable performance measurement;

                       5.  Racially just.  The committee supports policies that dismantle systems, policies, and practices that perpetuate structural racism, inequities and different forms of discrimination based on power and privilege; and

                       6.  Focused upstream and where needs are greatest.  The committee supports

policies that are focused upstream on root causes and sustainable solutions where returns are greatest and on populations and places with the greatest needs.