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5 <br /> Government efforts, instead of focusing on symptoms of racial inequity, should focus on the <br /> policies and institutional strategies that are driving the production of inequities. <br /> WHY RACE? <br /> Race is a social construct and not biological, as people often think. Defining racial categories has <br /> changed over the years. Issues involving race are often "the elephant in the room" but rarely <br /> discussed with a shared understanding. To advance racial equity, it is imperative we talk about <br /> race. <br /> In the United States, while race, income, and wealth are closely connected, racial inequity is not <br /> just about income. Even when income is the controlling factor, there still exist many inequities <br /> across multiple indicators of success, including education, jobs, housing, health and <br /> incarceration. It is important to talk about race to advance racial equity. To advance racial <br /> equity, we must normalize the conversation about race and operationalize strategizes for <br /> advancing racial equity. In advancing racial equity, we will also be building systems that allow us <br /> to address income and wealth inequity and recognize the bias that exists based on gender, sexual <br /> orientation, ability, age, and religion. Focusing on race allows us to develop a framework, tools, <br /> and resources that apply to other areas of marginalization, recognizing that different strategies <br /> will be necessary to achieve equity in other areas. <br /> ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY IMPROVES OUR COLLECTIVE SUCCESS <br /> Focusing on racial equity is critical in helping us achieve different outcomes for our communities. <br /> The goal is not just to eliminate the inequities between whites and people of color, but to <br /> increase and enhance the success of all groups. To eliminate disparities, we must strategize <br /> based on the experiences of communities being underserved by existing institutions, systems, <br /> and structures. To understand the experience of those communities, they must be included and <br /> engaged. In this process, we move past looking at disparities and find racialized systems that are <br /> costly and, depress outcomes, and life chances for all groups. Systems that are failing <br /> communities of color failing are us all by depressing life chances and outcomes. <br /> RACIAL EQUITY IS STRATEGY FOR CHANGE <br /> Over the last several decades, we have seen the introduction of many policy and programmatic <br /> efforts to advance racial equity. These individual efforts are essential but are not enough. A <br /> comprehensive strategy is necessary to achieve racial equity. Over the next several months, we <br /> will work with the GARE teams of Carrboro and Chapel Hill to develop a Countywide Racial Equity <br /> Plan. The Countywide Racial Equity Plan will focus on undoing racism both within our own <br /> individual jurisdiction and across our institutions that combine to create a system that negatively <br /> impact communities of color. We will invite not only Hillsborough,who is not in the GARE cohort <br /> but is a member of GARS, but also other regional partners to participate. <br /> 2 <br />