Orange County NC Website
1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: June 15, 2021 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 7-a <br /> SUBJECT: One Orange County Racial Equity Plan —A Framework for Moving Forward <br /> DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Racial Equity Plan Framework Annette Moore, Human Rights and <br /> Relations, (919) 245-2317 <br /> PURPOSE: To receive an overview of the Framework for moving forward with the Countywide <br /> Racial Equity Plan and provide staff with any feedback and questions on the Racial Equity Plan. <br /> BACKGROUND: In October 2020, the Orange County Board of Commissioners approved staff <br /> moving forward to work collaboratively with the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough <br /> on a Countywide Racial Equity Plan. After each board agreed, Orange County staff along with <br /> the staffs from each of the three jurisdictions began working in five multi-jurisdictional <br /> subcommittees on separate parts of the racial equity plan. The Subcommittees led by at least <br /> one jurisdictional lead are: Training, Racial Equity Tool Kit, Community Engagement, Racial <br /> Equity Index, and Evaluation and Accountability. <br /> The work of the Subcommittees will be the basis of the racial equity plan. Staff is planning to <br /> include a few other sections in the Plan such as: <br /> 1. Definition Section - There will also be a definition section so that the public can fully <br /> understand the terminology used throughout the document. <br /> 2. History - This summer staff will engage local historians to include the racialized history of <br /> Orange County as part of the Plan. <br /> 3. Current Demographic and Economic Data Analysis - Also a current demographic and <br /> economic analysis will be part of the Plan so that each jurisdiction can assess whether a <br /> disparity study is needed before entering into any race- or gender- based remedial <br /> programs so they each project developed based on racial equity principles can withstand <br /> scrutiny in a court of law.' <br /> In Richmond v.J.A. Croson,488 US 469(1989)the United States Supreme Court ruled that governments must <br /> establish a"compelling interest'to support the creation of contracting programs that specifically target minority and or <br /> women-owned businesses. <br />