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Government Alliance on Race and Equity

The Government Alliance on Race and Equity is a national network working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all.

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Home>Madison, Wisconsin

MidwestCore Member

Madison, Wisconsin

Beginning in 2013, Madison began working on issues of racial equity from the inside out. A focus on racial and health equity started in the Public Health Department, which is the only city-county department in Madison and Dane County. Data had consistently shown a link between race and health problems, such as diabetes and obesity.

Additionally, the City’s Department of Civil Rights has historically worked on workforce equity issues within and throughout the city—through Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunities programs. Mayor Paul Soglin and City Council members reached out to the Health and Civil Rights Departments to start drafting strategies that looked deeply at racial equity in Madison and Dane County.

In the fall of 2013, the Health Department and Department of Civil Rights drafted a resolution to lay the groundwork. With the help of 20 government employees representing half the departments in Madison, the team looked at other cities and what frameworks would work best. This group of employees consisted of members from multiple departments who were experts in their own fields of work, as well as employees who thought about topics that cut across departments.

Utilizing tools, training, data, and the initial report on racial equity, recommendations were developed in April 2014. After that, another resolution was written to formally adopt recommendations and begin implementing chosen strategies. The core team of 20 employees has expanded to 35, including nearly all departments in Madison.
The resolution established three goals for the city to focus its efforts on: Equity in City Operations, Equity in City Policy and Budget, and Equity in the Community.

A subcommittee consisting of core team members was formed to create and research racial equity tools. By looking at other jurisdictions like Seattle and Multnomah County, Madison determined that it needed to develop a tool that was customized and asked the right questions with minimal training. Two tools were created, a comprehensive version for significant decisions and a fast track version to be used only for low-stakes decisions. Both emphasize the need for stakeholder involvement and not just the people using the toolkit. As of April 2015, the toolkit has been used on at least seven different projects.


Download Datasheet


News from Madison, Wisconsin


October 18, 2017

Advancing and Promoting Racial Equity on the rise in the Midwest!

By: Gordon Goodwin and Manisha Paudel The 3rd floor of Madison Public Library was filled with over 100 local government and non-profit organization leaders from around the Midwest. They all had a shared goal of coming together as a region to begin and continue to ensure equitable outcomes for everyone. Local government leaders planned andREAD MORE > Read More


October 11, 2017

Libraries Take Action to Advance Racial Equity (Part 3 of 3)

Madison, Wisconsin ABOUT THIS SERIES: The GARE Libraries Interest works to develop the capacity of libraries to make racial equity a priority within libraries, cities, communities and national associations. An Issue Brief on racial equity in libraries is forthcoming Spring 2018. For information contact, Gordon Goodwin, ggoodwin@thecsi.org. Madison, Wisconsin, launched its Racial Equity and Social JusticeREAD MORE > Read More


October 11, 2017

Libraries Take Action to Advance Racial Equity (Part 1 of 3)

By: GARE Libraries Interest Group ABOUT THIS SERIES: The GARE Libraries Interest works to develop the capacity of libraries to make racial equity a priority within libraries, cities, communities and national associations. An Issue Brief on racial equity in libraries is forthcoming Spring 2018. For information contact, Gordon Goodwin, ggoodwin@thecsi.org. More than 50 cities andREAD MORE > Read More


March 22, 2017

[Webinar Recap] Actions Local Jurisdictions Can Take to Protect Immigrants and Refugees

The recent series of executive orders that target immigrants and refugees threaten the safety and well-being of our communities. Across the country, local jurisdictions are taking action to affirm their commitment to inclusivity and access for all residents. On Friday, February 24th, the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) hosted a webinar featuring sixREAD MORE > Read More


January 3, 2017

[Webinar] Applying the Racial Equity Tool

In 2016, GARE partnered with Bay Area Health Inequities Initiatives (BAHII) on a series of webinars on racial equity and government. In this webinar, GARE and BAHII discuss contracting for equity. In this webinar, GARE and BAHII discuss workforce equity: Listen to the recording here. Download the PowerPoint here. Read GARE’s report on applying the racialREAD MORE > Read More


January 3, 2017

[WEBINAR] Advancing Workforce Equity

In 2016, GARE partnered with the Bay Area Health Inequities Initiatives (BAHII) on a series of webinars on racial equity and government. In this webinar, GARE and BAHII discuss workforce equity: Listen to the recording here. Download the PowerPoint here. Read GARE’s report on workforce equity. The goals for the webinar were to: Gain anREAD MORE > Read More


August 14, 2015

The City of Madison’s 2015 Human Resources Equity Report: Advancing Racial Equity in the City Workforce

A recent report authored by HR Director Brad Wirtz, HR Services Manager Michael Lipski, Organizational Health and Development Manager Erin Stenson and Organizational Health and Development Specialist Melissa Gombar details the steps taken and progress achieved thus far by the City of Madison’s Human Resources Department. Read More


March 15, 2015

City of Madison Elections, Poll Workers and Racial Equity – A Winning Combination

The City of Madison, Wisconsin has been actively working to improve racial equity within its elections process. The city has utilized its Racial Equity and Social Justice Initiative (RESJI), which is an approach to setting policies, determining practices and cultivating deliverables in institutional processes that take into account the need for racial equity and empowerment at all levels. Read More


August 20, 2014

Materials from the Convening on Racial Equity (Twin Cities, MN – August 2014)

Materials from the Convening on Racial Equity in August 2014. Read More


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Download Datasheet


Participating Jurisdictions: Madison, WisconsinBegan Racial Equity Work: 2006 – 2010 Population: Medium (100,001–500,000) Region: Midwest Number of Employees: 4001 – 8000Form of Government: City


Demographics

White:184,030
African American: 16,926
Asian: 17,211
Hispanic: 15,948
American Indian & Alaska Native: 1,001
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander: 81
Multi-Racial: 7,241
Total Population: 233,209


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Government Alliance on Race & Equity
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GARE is a joint project of the new Race Forward and the Haas Institute for a Fair & Inclusive Society.© 2023 Government Alliance on Race and Equity

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