Advancing Racial & Health Equity & Shared Community Power
Ramsey County will develop a countywide approach to improve race-based disproportional outcomes by deconstructing systemic and institutional barriers to be more fair, inclusive and transparent in how we share decision-making power with residents, communities and employees to build a more equitable organization.
Why this is a priority
Ramsey County has a vision for a vibrant community where all are valued and thrive but has some of the worst racial inequities in the country, especially for Black and American Indian residents. To achieve equitable outcomes for all, Ramsey County must assess policies and practices rooted in institutional and structural racism while sharing decision making power with residents and communities, especially racial and ethnic groups who are experiencing racial inequities.
During COVID-19 Ramsey County created the Racial Equity and Community Engagement Response Team (RECERT) who worked alongside community members from the Equity Action Circle (EAC) to address racial inequities during the pandemic. RECERT and EAC initiatives were supported with over $4M of CARES and ARPA funding. EAC members developed recommendations that Ramsey County departments have implemented or are in the process of implementing. RECERT helped increase community and civic engagement by hosting over 15 virtual townhalls with over 1,000 cumulative attendees. In 2020 a third Racial and Health Equity Administrator was added, and the Health and Wellness Service Team added ten Racial and Health Equity Liaison Planners. Ramsey County will continue to involve racially diverse community groups and residents as programs and policies are being developed and administered.
Racial equity and shared power
Honoring racially and ethnically diverse knowledge and wisdom from our community of residents, businesses and employees before budgetary investments, program decisions or new projects are launched helps build trust and is critical to helping actively involve our most impacted communities in creating a better future, where all are valued and thrive. A broad range of resources and tools, including participatory methods and leadership accountability at all levels in organizational planning needs to be applied to structurally advance racial equity and measure outcomes.
