EQUITY in PRACTICE Making City programs accessible to underrepresented groups

Presentation outline a)History of CWSP b)‘Promising Equity Practices’ c)Early work d)Program equity analysis and outcomes e)Ongoing work and remaining challenges

History of CWSP 1995 BES/PSU partnership incentive program: awards up to $5,000/ watershed project (later $10,000) Award $95,000 total Early projects focused on stream restoration, education and monitoring. By 1999 began funding urban stormwater projects 2003 – 2010 Focus on geographic equity, outreach to under- represented areas and technical assistance. Outcomes included more geographic equity but still working with established environmental groups and schools In 2008 won Carter award

History of CWSP – Map

Populations of Color

History of CWSP Encouragement from Commissioner Saltzman’s Office for more purposeful equity component. Added application question about working with underserved groups, added GRA for additional technical assistance, added funds for youth stipends, more outreach to under represented areas, began working with Office of Equity and Human Rights – 2014 Equity analysis by PSU graduate student Cameron Herrington. Photo credit: Patrick Philpott, Portland Commission of Disability

CWSP grants as of outcomes

Promising Practices for equity work Building and Sustaining Genuine Relationships Setting Concrete Goals Understanding Barriers Providing Concrete Benefits to Community Build on the familiar or what is working Messaging and Outreach Institutionalizing a Preference for Equity Resistance – expect it and prepare for it

Promising Equity Practices Building and Sustaining Genuine Relationships: Worked through trusted community leader – in our case Polo Catalani from Office of Equity. Cross trained each other on watershed health needs and community needs.

Promising Equity Practices Providing Concrete Benefits One element that was stressed early on, was that the community needed to perceive a real benefit from participating such as teen employment, food gardens, etc. CWSP responded by increasing grant amount for teen youth stipends and saw early results.

Promising Equity Practices Setting concrete goals - Assessment VISION Through grant funding, support leadership by underrepresented groups; Support those groups’ efforts to address their own self-defined priorities

Promising Equity Practices Setting concrete goals ASSESSMENT ‘Equity score’ for each application: 0 =no participation of underrepresented communities 1 =limited partnership 2 =strong partnership / shared leadership 3 =project envisioned, led by underrepresented group

Promising Equity Practices Setting concrete goals: REPORTING for grant cycle cycle* Applications for projects involving underrepresented groups (score = 1, 2 or 3): 38% (13 out of 34) Applications for projects led by underrepresented groups (score = 3): 9% (3 out of 34) Average equity score: 0.618

Promising Equity Practices Understanding barriers to participation PROCESS Analysis of past applications Talked to people! KEY FINDING Concept of ‘community benefit’

Promising Equity Practices Understanding barriers to participation BARRIERS & STRATEGIES Restrictions on community gardens

application application

Promising Equity Practices Understanding barriers to participation Complexity of application and project admin: Removed requirements about watershed plan relevance Offered more technical assist to first time applicants Moved to a 2 step process with short pre-application

Promising Equity Practices Understanding barriers to participation BARRIERS & STRATEGIES Ineffective messaging and outreach Changed messaging to include community benefits

Promising Equity Practices Messaging and outreach Identified areas of overlap between community-defined priorities and CWSP’s watershed mission Community priorityWatershed project Food, nutrition, activities for eldersCommunity garden Leadership and employment for youthYouth summer program Crime and neighborhood livabilityNative-plant landscaping, community spaces, art Immigrant and refugee inclusionTrainings, education Flooding, standing waterDepaving, bioswales

Promising Equity Practices Messaging and outreach Revamped messaging grant announcement grant announcement EcoroofsNeighborhood safety, health, and livability Stormwater management facilities Youth leadership and jobs NaturescapingCommunity gardens Stream restorationImprovements to playgrounds

Promising Equity Practices Messaging and outreach Revamped messaging

Promising Equity Practices Build on the Familiar or What is Working Case Studies show both community outcomes and watershed outcomes.

Promising Equity Practices Build on the Familiar or What is Working Case Studies

Promising Equity Practices Build on the Familiar or What is Working Case Studies

Promising Equity Practices Messaging and outreach Building and Sustaining Relationships Continued to work with trusted intermediaries Targeted outreach efforts Photo credit: Patrick Philpott, Portland Commission of Disability

Promising Equity Practices Setting Concrete Goals OUTCOMES Applications involving underrepresented groups : 38% (13 out of 34) : 74% (31 out of 42) Applications led by underrepresented groups : 9% (3 out of 34) : 33% (14 out of 42) Average equity score 2010/11 = 0.62 Average equity score 2013/14 = 1.53

Promising Equity Practices Institutionalizing a preference for equity THREE SELECTION CRITERIA 1. Watershed health 2. Community involvement 3. Equity; leadership of underrepresented communities

Promising Equity Practices Institutionalizing a preference for equity OUTCOMES Awards to projects involving underrepresented groups : 33% (vs. 38% of apps) : 100% (vs. 74% of apps) Awards to projects led by underrepresented groups : 7% (vs. 9% of apps) : 67% (vs. 33% of apps) Average equity score of awards 2010/11= 0.53 Average equity score of awards 2013/14 = 2.50

Promising Equity Practices Resistance – prepare for it Your resistance, your coworkers, agency Know that you will be uncomfortable changing the program Address concerns Scoring sheet for ecological benefits to include community gardens Educate co-workers about social marketing messages

Ongoing Work and Remaining Challenges Improve equity commitment and capacity of dominant culture environmental groups Make program more accessible for less- established, less-professional groups Continue strong focus on equity without a dedicated staff person – institutionalizing equity work

Contact for more information: Jennifer Devlin