West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum will host a demonstration of a Racial Equity Impact Assessment on a significant local sustainability project on Monday, November 19 from 12 to 1:30 pm at LINC Up.
Public institutions, non-profits and corporations often make policy-decisions that negatively affect a variety of racial and ethnic groups. Those decisions are often made unintentionally due to internal structures or the absence of diverse views and relationships. Local, county and state governments are now using racial equity impact assessments during their decision-making process, often before taking action on certain proposals in order to be more intentional in preventing inequities and institutional racism.
Featured speaker Eric Foster, principal of Progress Strategies+ will introduce the REIA and facilitate an exercise and table discussions on the Grand Rapids Whitewater river restoration project. Representatives of the initiative will be on hand to briefly discuss the new venture and receive feedback from the participants. Eric will be using a model developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation to inform dialogue to “reduce, eliminate and prevent racial discrimination and inequities and prevent institutional racism.”
Please note: Participants should not expect a full update on the project. The initiative is being highlighted for demonstration purposes and discussion will be largely limited to factors material to racial equity. Note further that this is for demonstration purposes and that it should not be perceived as a formal evaluation of racial equity for this project, or as community outreach effort to that effect. It is an educational exercise for sustainable business stakeholders on how to assess projects for racial equity impacts.
The Grand Rapids Whitewater river restoration initiative is a $45 million plan to restore Michigan’s longest river to a more natural state, including the city’s namesake rapids. The project will remove five dams between Sixth and Pearl streets to restore an 18-foot drop in the Grand River’s elevation across a 2.2-mile stretch between Leonard Street and Fulton Street. Below the Sixth Street dam, boulder-strewn rapids would be recreated.
Note also that this month’s forum is on the third Monday to accommodate for the Veteran’s Day holiday. Doors open at 11:30 for networking. Lunch is at 12 pm, with the program starting at 12:30.
River Forward WMSBF November 11 2018
November Forum: Racial Equity Impact Assessment Demo
Monday, November 19
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
LINC UP Gallery
1167 Madison Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Members: $17 online / $22 at event
Non-members: $22 online / $27 at event
Agenda
11:30 am to 12:30 pm Networking and Lunch
12:30 pm to 12:40 pm Welcome and Introductions
12:40 pm to 1:30 pm Racial Impact Equity Assessment Demo
Parking: Available onsite.