In this report, Urban Institute researchers look at lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and the Great Recession to identify housing policy priorities that contribute to racial equity.

An evaluation and assessment tool to review how leadership and staff embed racial equity and inclusion within an organization. Living Cities surveys staff using these competencies and publishes key findings publicly.

To maximize the impact of the Action Plan and reduce inequities in the region, taking steps to address the root causes or systems that have created the disparities is required. Root causes are the underlying factors that cause systemic problems. By looking for root causes of problems and the multiple factors contributing to disparities, the EDD/EDO can more effectively design solutions that will solve the issue. Communities of color have faced a range of systems contributing to economic exclusion, from lender discrimination, lack of infrastructure investments, insufficient access to healthcare, and more. In crafting the action plan, ensure the cause of the problem is being addressed, rather than a symptom. Use a root cause analysis, with community stakeholders, to explore more impactful solutions. Facilitate root cause analysis discussions with resources from Tableau.

From The Mark-Up, an investigative journalism piece illustrates how Internet Service Providers prioritize investments based on wealth and competition, low-income communities are paying more for slower nternet service than higher-income areas, if there is even basic infrastructure available.

Usually, employers, rather than workers, sit at the center of workforce development strategies. However, employing strategies that center workers, including their rights, voice, and empowerment, presents a much broader set of strategies to encourage economic mobility. The Aspen Institute presents a model for putting work equity at the center of the converation using a model from the Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance.

Montana | Pop. 111,913 | 5 counties

In collaboration with the City of Shelby in Montana, Sweetgrass Development, sought to address increasing housing costs and renovate an abandoned school. Staff provided expertise in brownfield restoration and access to EPA funding and supported the city in completing the property assessments and moving forward with a plan to clean up and renovate the building. The long-term goal after the cleanup ends is to convert the space into multi-family housing designed to meet the needs of Shelby residents.

Missouri/Kansas | Pop. 1,186,175 | 8 counties

The council builds on the regional collaborative model established with KC Rising to create Climate Action KC. This coalition, with more than 100 local and state leaders, crafted a climate action plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Created by the Center for Economic Inclusion for the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, this guide draws connections between regional indicators and cultural communities represented in the region to understand economic inclusion and exclusion better.

The City of Minneapolis has created a city-wide Cimate Action Plan. This plan has been informed by recommendation's from the City's Environmental Justice Working Group.

Minnesota | Pop. 166,566 | 5 counties

Explore how Region 5 Development Commission used the WealthWorks's capital framework to take an asset-based approach to their S.W.O.T. Analysis.

Minnesota | Pop. 116,862 | 4 counties

The commission crafted an economic opportunity program that focused specifically on expanding access to affordable childcare with a focus on rural communities in their region. In collaboration with First Children’s Finance, staff provides childcare businesses with marketing, consultation, and other services. Additionally, the partnership has begun planning strategies to open more childcare locations in rural communities.

Massachusetts | Pop. 4,432,617 | 5 counties

Focusing on the local cities of Revere and Chelsea, the council crafted a digital access and equity plan to address accessibility, availability, and affordability of fast, reliable internet. The development of this plan included a working group with broad community stakeholder representation, a survey available in both English and Spanish, the creation of updated internet service maps, and a community needs assessment focused on both digital literacy and device access.

Minnesota | Pop. 86,764 | 5 counties

In 2019, the commission launched the 100 Cups of Coffee project, where interviewers had 100 one-on-one conversations with community members. As part of the creation of the Beltrami Area Resiliency Team, these conversations resulted in the identification of challenges around substance use, mental healthcare, childcare, education, and housing.

Minnesota | Pop. 86,764 | 5 counties

In their 2022 CEDS, the commission includes “affordable and quality housing” as the region’s most significant priority. This aligns with existing strategies, including the “Home Stretch” Homebuyer Education curricula, housing rehabilitation partnerships, and supportive housing facilities. These efforts are aligned with the commission’s Racial Equity Accountability Project (REAP). This project looks at housing outcomes and homelessness response through the lens of structural and systematic barriers and seeks to identify solutions to reduce racial disparities in housing.

From Detriot Future City, this guide presents new ways of considering who in the community isvovled and brings expertise to the community engagement process and expands the definition of an expert to include those closed to the problem and have lived experience.

Michigan | Pop. 260,010 | 5 counties

The commission crafted an equity statement and stated equity goals to ensure future work is aligned with the existing equity and inclusion focus.

Massachusetts | Pop. 4,432,617 | 5 counties

In their 2020 CEDS, the council focused on the issues of equity and inclusion by defining terms, explaining their importance, and framing goals around these issues. Their process and plan have three major themes: racial equity, economic resilience, and climate resilience.

Massachusetts | Pop. 789,034 | 1 county

Explore how the Merrimack Valley Regional Planning Commission used the S.O.A.R. framework to take an asset-based approach to their S.W.O.T. Analysis.

Massachusetts | Pop. 4,432,617 | 5 counties

In their 2023 CEDS, the commission provided updates on the Berkshire Blueprint 2.0 initiative. In partnership with 1Berkshire, the blueprint identified five industry clusters and developed partner hubs for each. These efforts included the creation of an advisory board, implementation support, and benchmarking.

Created by the University of Virginia Institute for Engagement and Negotiation Project, this report is an example of a state-level climate adaption plan that contains goals, policies, and implementation steps with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion considerations.