Inequities in social and political power have been a part of the formation, development, and current fabric of society in the United States. From the relocation and assassination of indigenous people, enslavement of people from Africa, lack of basic human rights of people who were not white, male, or landowners during the formation of the U.S. constitution and political structure, the U.S. population has been in a continual and challenging process of recognizing inequities and repairing and improving the sharing of power. Of specific importance is the recognition of the impact of racism on our society and the need for intentional efforts towards eliminating racism, as this recognition is foundational to transformational equity work.
Boulder County understands addressing equity as individuals, as a government organization, and in the county’s intersections with its constituents is a major undertaking, necessary of significant investment of time, resources, energy, and at times, discomfort as shifts of cultural understanding and practices change. The BOCC also recognizes that improvement in equity, responsiveness, and inclusion within the organization is a continual and on-going process with no finite end.
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and members of Boulder County’s Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion Committee (CRIAC) have identified major milestones to improving equity, diversity, and inclusion over time at the organization. From 2014-2016, a diverse leadership board of employees supportive of and with expertise in cultural responsiveness and inclusion developed a mission, vision, and concrete goals and objectives for increasing cultural responsiveness and inclusion at Boulder County. These goals and objectives are defined in the Boulder County Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion Roadmap which was adopted by the BOCC in 2016. As part of the BOCC’s 2019-2024 strategic priorities, the BOCC is re-emphasizing its support and investment in this roadmap and those implementing the roadmap. As significant progress has been made in implementing the roadmap and lessons have been learned, updates and revisions will be made as necessary to continue improvement in realizing equity, as prioritized by the Cultural Responsiveness and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, and BOCC.
Objective 1a: Ensure accountability for supporting and sustaining equity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusion.
Objective 1b: Ensure leadership within the Boulder County organization has the tools and resources to support and sustain equity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusion efforts.
Objective 1c: Ensure policy supports and sustains equity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusion and efforts are sustainable over time.
Objective 1d: Ensure recruitment, hiring, and retention activities within the organization support and sustain equity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusion.
Objective 1e: Ensure Boulder County employees have the training and tools they need to support and sustain equity, cultural responsiveness, and inclusion activities, including training to address oppression