I am sure that almost everyone who has worked with an organization has participated in an exercise that has some form of participant “wall posting” of key words, concepts, situations, and actions that are critical to understanding the organization, both now and in the future. In most cases, the exposure of these key points gives leaders the material required to set goals and develop the necessary plans to reach those goals.
I attended a CA FWD session on May 13 entitled: Building Equitable Economies that featured eight Inland Empire / Central Valley community leaders who are passionate about making sure that equity is a key component in the rebuilding of a post-pandemic economy. I was excited about what I heard, but it was difficult to capture it all in my notes until I started copying only key words, just like what I would do in the exercise I described above.
Upon review of my “key word” notes, I was amazed at the clarity these key words gave to the job of building new equitable economies, and I want to share these with you in the hope that they are as exciting and helpful to you as they were to me.
2010 – 2019 – Economic Stagnation
Jobs in Regions > Livelihood > Grow a middle class
If income is less than $30,000, unemployment is 25 – 30%
Jobs in transition: Oil and Ag
Be intentional / Use resources wisely
Plan “with,” not plan “for”
Engage people most impacted…What is needed?
Commit to the long haul and reiterate as you go
Commit to getting it right, not being right
With newly introduced Federal funding, dollars are not an excuse now
Get laser focused – e.g. Child Poverty
Get real community people to engage powerful people in dialogue
Have touch points:
Monthly meetings
Resident summit
Interface with pastors and other civic leaders
Get all sides out of their silos
Get non-profits to not compete; bring more $ in by working together
Find things to work on together
Public sector jobs need to be equity based, not equity added!
Take what you have (i.e. low wage jobs, youth, 60% people of color, region growth) and maximize the potential
Question how inclusive this all is
The customer of a community should be the marginalized versus business
Radical coordination: housing, kids, students
Focus on equity for the long haul!
For issues where there is disagreement, find the 20% where agreement might exist
Each area is different, and key issues will be different
Ask how this is real on the ground
Go to the tables of other entities
Culture must come before policy
Reconcile people’s feelings instead of just giving them more data
Ask what economy is right for you?
Act with urgent slowness
Engage citizens working together
With today’s risk capital, the risk is failing to act!
Don’t have impact…Support those who have impact
Triple Bottom Line:
Economy
Equity
Environment