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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Resources for Local Governments

This page provides resources, tools, and sample documents related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in local governments in Washington State.

Overview

Across Washington State, many local governments are making a commitment to advancing equity. They may be forming advisory groups, gathering data, or reviewing and revising policies and procedures. There are many reasons why local governments would consider undertaking DEI initiatives, including:

  • Improved decision-making that better represents all communities and is less likely to suffer from unintentional blind spots and biases;
  • Increased community trust by offering more options for community members to be heard and better understand local government initiatives;
  • A more equitable allocation of public resources to all communities;
  • Increased trust between community members by offering citizens more opportunities to interact with one another; and
  • Improved employee satisfaction, reduced staff turnover, and increased employee engagement and awareness.

The Washington State Office of Equity was formed in 2020 (authorized by chapter 43.06D RCW). The Task Force Proposal defines diversity, equity, and inclusion in the following ways:

  • Diversity “describes the presence of differences within a given setting, collective, or group.”
  • Equity is the process of “developing, strengthening, and supporting policies and procedures that distribute and prioritize resources to those who have been historically and currently marginalized.”
  • Inclusion is “intentionally designed, active, and ongoing engagement with people that ensures opportunities and pathways for participation in all aspects of group, organization, or community, including decision making processes.”

Building Inclusive Communities

Washington communities are composed of a broad diversity of residents including non-English speaking residents and populations from many racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.

Many jurisdictions actively work to ensure that diverse communities are well-represented in policy discussions. A more complex definition of inclusive communities includes elements such as helping people thrive by:

  • Encouraging civility
  • Combating racism
  • Welcoming and celebrating diversity
  • Promoting safe and affordable housing
  • Enabling participation in community services and local government
  • Supporting fairness in access to justice and services
  • Reducing violence, supporting social justice
  • Encouraging awareness and understanding of opportunities/limitations
  • Making residents aware of human rights commissions
  • Working for a more sustainable community for all residents

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training

For many local governments, the pathway toward advancing equity begins with training and facilitated conversations for staff and elected officials. This training is helpful in building a common vocabulary and understanding of equity concepts across the organization.

There are many different types of diversity and racial equity training offered by consultants and consulting organizations. MRSC’s blog post on advancing equity gives an overview of the different types of training available.

Official Statements and Programs in Support of Inclusion

Another initial step in establishing an inclusive community is making an official statement to reinforce a commitment to acceptance, equal treatment, and safety for everyone. DEI programs implement these directives with action steps.

  • Issaquah Resolution No. 2020-08 (2020) – Adopts statement rejecting racial bias, harassment, and hate crimes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Jefferson County Board of Health Resolution No. 65-20 (2020) – Action items are preceded by an extensive findings, facts, statements, and good faith beliefs section that begins with a Land Acknowledgment statement and explanation of the choice of terminology used.
  • Kent Mayoral Directive (2020) – Directs all city departments and employees to take specific actions on advancing race and equity issues in Kent.
  • King County Board of Health Resolution No. 20-08 (2020) – Declares racism a public health crisis and commits to assessing, revising, and writing its guiding documents and its policies with a racial justice and equity lens, including the Board of Health Code and annual workplan.
  • Seattle
  • Shoreline Resolution No. 467 (2020) – Outlines efforts city will make to address persistent racism and work towards becoming an anti-racist community.
  • Tacoma Resolution No. 40622 (2020) – Directs the city manager to keep anti-racism as a top priority in the process of budget development and prioritize anti-racism in the planning of an economic recovery strategy following COVID-19, and in the evaluation of existing services and new policies and programs.

DEI-Related Data Collection and Analysis 

Data collection and analysis is critical not only for determining what challenges a local government chooses to tackle with a DEI initiative but also in measuring success in the community and within the local government. 

  • Snohomish County Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assessment (2019) – Identifies successful DEI practices that can be replicated countywide and offers recommendations on where continued diversity, equity, and inclusion work is needed.
  • Sound Transit Title VI Service and Fare Equity Analysis (2021) – Evaluates whether the Northgate Link light rail extension distributes transit benefits fairly and does not discriminate against minority or low-income communities.
  • Tacoma Equity Index – Used by city staff, community members, partners, and other decision makers to ensure that the city is making data-informed decisions that improve access to opportunity for all Tacoma residents.

Community-Based Advisory Committees

Below are examples of programs that focus on building bridges with local communities. This includes the development of advisory committees, commissions, and task forces to build awareness and provide guidance on policy choices.

Equitable Community Engagement in Comprehensive Planning

As jurisdictions update their comprehensive plans, intentional strategies are needed to actively engage underrepresented communities and ensure diverse voices are included in planning for the future.

Inclusive Hiring and Contracting Policies

Hiring and contracting policies are a necessary focus of attention when addressing long-term structural issues that result in the disenfranchisement of people due to race, ethnicity, ability, or sexual orientation.

For additional information on the hiring process, including anti-discrimination laws and questions that can and cannot be asked of job applicants, see MRSC's pages on Hiring Procedures and Purchasing and Contracting.

Equity Tools

Below are examples of equity tools in use in Washington State. The Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE) offers a basic Racial Equity Toolkit that can be modified by local governments.

Community Policing and Police and Criminal Justice Reform Initiatives

Some local governments are conducting specialized DEI efforts in policing and criminal justice to address long-term racial disparities in arrests and sentencing.

  • Pasco Citizen’s Advisory Committee – Specifically formed to address community concerns and assist in developing strategies for implementation of Community Oriented Policing components.
  • Pierce County Criminal Justice Review of Policies & Practices (2020) – Reviewed policies and practices that, according to multiple local and national organizations, result in the inequitable treatment of African Americans and all people of color.
  • Port of Seattle Solicitation 00320367 (2020) – A request for proposals to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the port police department's policies, protocols, and procedures that impact DEI issues. It includes recommendations for action.

Additional Equity and Inclusion Policies

  • Bellingham Ordinance 2017-02-008 (2017) – Affirms city’s support of immigrants and refugees of all nationalities, religions, and backgrounds; precludes use of city funds or resources for activities that enforce civil or administrative federal immigrations laws.
  • Issaquah Resolution No. 2022-11 (2022) – Adopts a list of cultural and religious holidays for 2022 and 2023 and states that the city should make every effort to avoid scheduling public meetings on those holidays.
  • Spokane Regional Health District Resolution No. 20-07 (2020) – Declares that the district will build an internal infrastructure to advance health equity, engage in strategic partnerships to eliminate health inequities, and apply strategies for recruiting and hiring a workforce that reflects the community it serves.
  • Tacoma Municipal Code Section 1.29.180 (2019) – Requires gender neutral labeling of all single-occupancy bathrooms.

Recommended Resources

MRSC Resources


Last Modified: February 26, 2026