Dismantling inequity
California state departments unite to combat institutional racism
Racial inequity exists. And too often, progress toward its eradication has focused upon explicit forms of discrimination, ignoring the unconscious bias and deep-seated inequities that live within our systems and institutions. People of color face some of the greatest disparities for success and opportunity, in education, employment, housing, health — and the arts.
At the California Arts Council, access, equity, and inclusion are an integral part of our vision for California, and a priority of our programs and services. And since last January, we’ve become part of a larger effort to advance institutional equity in California, at our agency and beyond.
The Government Alliance on Race & Equity (GARE) is a national network of government partners working toward achieving racial equity. The project was developed by Race Forward, a nonprofit organization centered around racial justice, and the Hass Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society. GARE leads with race with the recognition that “the creation and perpetuation of racial inequities has been baked into government, and that racial inequities across all indicators for success are deep and pervasive.”
GARE leads with race with the recognition that “the creation and perpetuation of racial inequities has been baked into government, and that racial inequities across all indicators for success are deep and pervasive.”
In 2018, the California Health in All Policies Task Force teamed up with Race Forward and the Haas Institute to launch the first state-level GARE cohort in the nation.
The California Capitol Cohort brought together 19 different state departments and agencies to learn about and pave the way for racial equity within California state government.
The California Arts Council was proud to be among them. For the entirety of 2018, fifteen of the CAC’s staff members participated in regular group sessions with fellow state departments, collaboratively learning core concepts in racial equity, how to talk about race, adaptive leadership skills, and ways to increase workforce equity and community engagement. We attended a speaker series to further our understanding of our role in addressing institutional racism and implicit bias, legal considerations for equity issues in government, and trauma-informed workplace strategies. We workshopped to get a clearer picture of results-based accountability for policy changes. On our own, we met every other week to utilize the tools and takeaways from those group sessions to develop a draft racial equity plan for our agency.
Staff members matriculated from their first year as part of the GARE cohort in December. We celebrated our achievement in appropriate fashion for the California Arts Council — with a musical number. The energy apparent in the room during our song was a testament to the impact felt by us all during our first year in the cohort — the personal stories shared, the relationships built and strengthened, the collaborative work accomplished.
Even here, in California, a state unparalleled in its diversity, systemic barriers still endure. And for that very same reason, because we are California, it is our duty to work together to tear them down.
And as much as it was fun to work alongside each other and our fellow colleagues in state government, it was also difficult. Assessments and tasks were challenging, and conversations were at times uncomfortable. But each of us understands the nature of work this big, and this important. The CAC is passionate, and we know that we can — and should — do better. Even here, in California, a state unparalleled in its diversity, systemic barriers still endure. And for that very same reason, because we are California, it is our duty to work together to tear them down.
The outcomes of this work will inform the development of a new agency and Council strategic framework that will be developed this year, and help shape future recommendations for our guidelines and policies. And, perhaps most importantly, it will impact the arts and culture field in our state, and the lives of Californians.
We’re excited to report that we’ve signed on for another year with the GARE cohort, and we’re looking forward to continuing our journey toward implementing all that we’ve learned in year one. Our first meeting of the year happened earlier this month.
The mission of the California Arts Council, a state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. Learn more at arts.ca.gov.
