Recommendation for an Expert in Equity Services

One group to consider would be Thrivance Group out in LA. They are an interesting small planning firm led by Dr. Destiny Thomas, who is a powerhouse thinker around how to "operationalize equity."

Hi Nicole,   Thanks for posing this question as it is something I have been ruminating on since I first heard about the discussion at the Winter Summit (I was not there). Similar to what you have stated above, it sounds like the discussion was centered around quantifying the value of equity to somehow make it ‘attractive’ to clients. The comparison has been made to the monetization of ecosystem services in our sustainability work.   I would like to strongly caution AGAINST this approach for a variety of reasons I will try to spell out below.   The failure of sustainability progress and the work on ecosystem services is exactly the issue you are trying to apply to equity – monetizing something within a capitalist construct that does not value these things as ‘inherent goods’ actually diminishes their value and allows for them to be continually ignored or sidestepped for not being cost effective. The progress that we have made over the last few decades on sustainability has been IN SPITE OF the perceived lack of financial value, rather than proving out the financial worth. We still fail to prove out the ‘value’ of sustainability interventions because we continue to play the game that it is about proving financial worth, when in fact the system as designed excludes the inherent value of these systems. It’s a losing game.   Constructing metrics that would tie equity achievement into a pro forma/ROI is about assigning value to people’s lived experiences. So trying to convince clients that they should care about the perpetuated oppression of their projects, if they do not already care, is not something that can or should be attempted through blunt financial instruments like pro formas or other ROI frameworks. In equity work the question of 'who benefits' is often at the forefront of efforts because equity is always about who has and who keeps the power. "Equity services" implies a reinforcing of these existing power structures that are at the heart of what needs to be dismantled - services by whom and for whom?    Finally, based on something I saw come out of the summit task group, it looks like the actual intent of this effort was to identify different metrics that track equity considerations, such as job creation, community health impacts, etc. I think this is a valuable effort that has already been done by many entities and maybe just needs to be vetted and compiled as those impacts relate to the built environment work we are doing. The Miro board for the SCDL already has some places where this is being captured through the different resources.   In conclusion, I suggest retiring the phrase “equity services” entirely as it perpetuates an extractive model of interrelationships (which is also the problem with ecosystem services, fwiw). In addition, no more time spent on identifying or capturing the value of equity – let’s talk about it and treat it as the inherent good that it is, and brook no opposition. We should never have to defend a person’s right to thrive and not be oppressed.   I’m happy to continue this conversation if desired, but wanted to firmly state my position on what I’ve been hearing.   Best regards, Kristen

Kristen - well said, and I agree with your points. Metrics matter for understanding and evaluating changes being made - to support continuous improvement / transformation, but financial valuation of foundational (i.e. intrinsic, relational) values can be deadly. Nicole - a few additional thoughts:

• Rather than attempting to fold equity quanitification into predatory neoliberal paradigms, what if you approached instead as a discussion of (ethical) values alignment - including client and community stakeholders and rightsholders -to develop shared regenerative principles and protocols to enshrine values (and purpose) and guide proforma development and associated valuation metrics. Value-adding benefits would likely be (co)created in a myriad of ways (e.g. through things like increased community acceptance and faster permiting, increased innovation, community health, nested regenerative economic development, etc.); but these would be more qualitative and as a function of nurturing reciprocal relationships vs monetized transactions. 

 

• not being hip to discussions from this past Winter summit, if capacity/capability-building services were actually what you were after, in additon to Thrivance (who sound v cool btw), I wonder if there are also Indigenous / tribal consultants in your area doing decolonization training. Here (unceded MST territories in the place currently known as Vancouver) I'd recommend Nahanee Creative, Hummingbird Rising, Host, Heart to Heart Relations. While each very different, from my experience, they all share a grounding in values, and approach 'services' as laddering, developmental engagement journeys. Perhaps something of interest - from whatever perspectives represent local communities where you are.

Warmly (quite literally from our current 'heat dome') J  

of course! Thanks for asking - you have my full permission to use whatever you need. I know the intentions are always good and pure and I'm happy to have helped. 

Hi Nicole,  Thanks for your inquiry! Let's start with the range of services question. I recently saw an RFP that was pretty clear about "Equity Services." The following language was provided as a guiding principle for an engagement process - so its part of a planning & engagement project process: Equity and Environmental Justice: A central guiding principle of the Project is to advance the City’s codified mission to ”intentionally integrate, on a Citywide basis, the principle of 'fair and just' in all the City does in order to achieve equitable opportunities for all people and communities." This means working to eliminate the root causes of inequity, including communities in understanding their barriers and strengths, and working with these communities in developing solutions for long-term and systemic changes. Scope: Data Assembly and Review: Equity metrics available from a variety of sources, including: The City’s Equity Indicators Report; Department of Race and Equity existing conditions data; Equity data available from UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute; California Disadvantaged Communities data  Environmental and Racial Equity Baseline 
City staff and the Consultant Team will work together to define the city’s environmental and equity baseline for use in the Project Vision Statement and Equity Framework 
Following the procedures put forth in the Public Engagement program, the Consultant Team will work with City staff and the public to develop a Vision and Equity Framework for the Project. Draft Environmental Justice Element Preparation 
The Consultant Team will develop an Environmental Justice Element that is compliant with SB 1000 and State guidelines and that reflects input received during the engagement program and builds on recently completed work within the City Racial Equity Impact Analysis 
The Consultant Team, in collaboration with City staff, will complete a Racial Equity Impact Analysis (REIA). Hopefully some of this language helps. Benefiting the pro forma is a whole other issue, but it should be noted that the RFP set it out as a guideing principle - a public prioritiy if you will. Best,  Christine   

Hi Nicole (all) - sorry for delayed reply (no childcare this month so wheels are off the cart). Ditto with Kristen's response.   Also, I just had a tangentially related email from Michelle Amt - in relation to some (J)EDI efforts within the larger SDL group. Seems good to merge threads. I'll follow back up when I hear back from her and we can brainstorm on best ways to move this forward. Kristen - sounds like you might be involved in both efforts?  Other thoughts? I don't want to muddy waters, just want to leverage capacity-building / capacity-growing synergies across the braintrust whenever we can. warmly, J        

I am involved in that group, and it is open to any member of the Peer Networks, so anyone in the SCDL can join too! I actually discussed Nicole's inquiry with that group before crafting my response just to gut check that I wasn't just hanging out on my own soap box alone. It's a great group.