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1/31/24, 11:37 AM HSOA-24-41 <br />https://chapelhillnc.workflow.opengov.com/#/explore/records/63264/react-form-details/63264 6/14 <br />Describe how the agency incorporates racial equity into its goals. (150 word limit) <br />Describe how the intended beneficiaries of the proposed project(s) were involved in the planning and design <br />process. (150 word limit) <br />Percent (%) of Staff who attended racial equity <br />trainings. <br />100 <br />Percent (%) of Board Members who attended racial <br />equity trainings. <br />100 <br />BIPOC workers often fill the positions that pay the least in our society, thus racial <br />equity is integral to the mission of OCLW. Among the almost 9000 employees <br />supported by our 269 currently certified employers, 31% are BIPOC. Additionally, 6% <br />of OCLW's LW certified employers are BIPOC owned. <br />OCLW completed a 3-year Strategic Plan in 2023 that includes racial equity <br />goals. These include 1) a target that 10% of new certified employers will be BIPOC <br />owned and will elevate more BIPOC employees to a living wage. We are developing a <br />toolkit for employers to overcome barriers to paying a living wage; 2) a goal to <br />diversify and educate our Board and staff. We continue to identify more diverse <br />members to advise decisions from multiple perspectives. Our full Board and staff <br />completed DEI training and we added a BIPOC member from a LW certified employer <br />with racial equity work experience. <br />As part of our Strategic Planning process, OCLW surveyed our LW certified employers <br />and employees. We also conducted interviews with BIPOC business owners who were <br />not yet certified. The findings of this feedback has directly informed our networking, <br />education, and diversity objectives and plans going forward. <br />We continue to diversify our board and staff. We currently have 2 certified employers <br />and one employee on our Board, where they have provided input on programming and <br />strategy. We will continue to reach out to the community for feedback and inclusion. <br />Published reports show that living wages enable workers to experience greater job <br />satisfaction resulting in less turnover for employers. Living wages have also been <br />shown to reduce the gender, racial, and ethnic wage gap and grow the middle <br />class. Increasingly, consumers are holding businesses accountable for their social <br />impact and paying a living wage can make a business stand out. <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 5C318706-42D9-4B0F-B8A6-43E915CB7F39