Whole of Government Pre-conference at Facing Race in Phoenix, Arizona Thursday, November 17 from 8:30 am to 2:45 pm MT (6 hrs)
Hosted by the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE); State of Equity; and the Federal Initiative for Racial Equity (FIRE)
The Whole of Government Pre-con is focused on providing government practitioners an opportunity to explore how building and using infrastructure for community participation and interagency coordination can contribute to achieving racially equitable results. Our example for supporting our learning is the ReGenesis Project in Spartanburg, SC. Our mode for the day includes individual reflection, peer exchange in pair-shares and table discussions about questions designed to prompt participants to think critically about their work and how it can be more aligned to support racial equity via this infrastructure.
Workshop Outcomes:
-
Participants will explore how a whole-of-government approach can be employed to advance racial equity.
-
Participants will learn how community partnership; participation in decision making; and interagency and intergovernmental coordination requires putting key infrastructure in place.
-
Participants will learn about the ReGenesis Project and how government institutions can work together to encourage transformative change.
-
Participants will consider how the lessons from past successful efforts can be applied to current work (e.g., leveraging ARPA or IIJA investments to support community-driven solutions).
Our Learning Example
The ReGenesis Project is based in the City of Spartanburg, SC. It involves Spartanburg County, the regional Council of Government, the ST of South Carolina and the US Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 and the Interagency Working Group for Environmental Justice. Most importantly, this example is centered around resident organizing by those who stand to be most significantly negatively impacted by the threat of environmental degradation, and the role of people working in government to create infrastructure for community participation in the decision-making that impacts their lives.
The workshop will be hosted in 4 consecutive segments.
Advancing Equity Starts with Us
Behind every equity win is a group of equity leaders. In a like manner, leaders need systems to be in place to facilitate their success. National leaders will clarify how a mix of programs was set up and eventually aided in the success of the ReGenesis Project. Attendees will learn to not take background work for granted. Also, Harold Mitchell, Jr. will contextualize the conditions of the Arkwright and Forest Park communities in the early years.
The Cadence of a Whole-of-Government Intervention While Being Community-Driven
Local, state, and federal officials will clarify how they rolled up their sleeves and worked with the impacted neighborhoods of Arkwright and Forest Park in Spartanburg, SC. Participants will share how the partnership and supportive role of government became a framework for “collaborative problem solving” that resulted in the community leveraging $300 million in investment. The audience will learn the outcomes that are being celebrated by impacted citizens and the greater Spartanburg community.
Applying Lessons from the Past. Imagining Approaches for the Future.
ReGenesis demonstrates racial equity requires commitment, collaboration, compassion, courage, and a compact. Local, state, and federal attendees will participate in collaborative dialogues with “guest speakers/presenters”. Use this time to explore and discuss what is needed to govern for racial equity.
Closing Comments
As the pre-conference wraps up, attendees will be reminded that public institutions need to be bold and creative, and structures will need to be pliable in order to solve racial inequities. Racial equity values and whole-of-government investments can produce stellar outcomes. Also, collaborative problem solving among levels of government can create the conditions for the thriving, multiracial democracy our country needs.
Lunch will be provided, and a reception will follow the final segment so participants can meet and exchange ideas further.