Advancing Racial &
Social Equity Through
Culture & Practice
ANNUAL REPORT
Public Safety, Finance and Strategic Support Committee
June 12, 2025
Agenda Item: (d)1.
Andrea Aguiar, Racial Equity Manager
Lydia Bustamante, Inclusion & Belonging Manager 1
Our Vision is a City of San José in
which all people in our community and
organization thrive and where no
racial disparities exist.
Our Mission is to support the City
to embed a racial equity practice
and embody a culture that
sustains it.
2 Purpose & Recommendation
PURPOSE RECOMMENDATION SCOPE
Share Office of Racial &
Social Equity’s Fiscal
Year 2024-2025 Impact
Accept the
annual report • Racial & Social Equity • Inclusion & Belonging • Disability Affairs 3 01.
02. 03.
Build Organizational Capacity &
Infrastructure
Normalize & Culturalize Equity &
Inclusion
Establish Practices for a Welcoming,
Inclusive San José
Strategic Objectives
04. Remove Barriers and Improve Access
for Underserved Communities
4 • 86% of City employees understand
how racial equity, inclusion,
accessibility, and intersectionality
relate to their role as a City
employee
Racial and Social Equity
Action Plans:
• 23 RSEAPs
• Dashboard launched to promote
transparency & accountability
Racial & Social
Equity Highlights
Embedding Equity in City Practices
5 Inclusion & Belonging Efforts
Strengthening Community Trust
and Civic Belonging
• Launched Civics Master Class
• Expanded Know Your
Rights Infrastructure
• Boosted Legal Access
• Monitored and supported 17 statelevel inclusion bills on access and equity
• Launched Welcoming San José
Plan (2025-2030)
6 • 150+ staff trained on disability
awareness and ableism
• 25 site visits held with 130 participants
to assess language access, inclusive
signage, and interpretation needs
• 16th Annual Disability Awareness Day
drew over 500 attendees
• Compliance with digital accessibility
Operationalizing Disability Inclusion standards by April 2026 Across City Systems Disability Affairs Progress
7 • National anti-DEI sentiment and
local resource constraints
• Need for sustained leadership
and deeper departmental
integration
Challenges
Challenges & Forward Focus
• Standardize practices
• Support Equity Values Policy
and Ordinance implementation
• Grow staff capacity for equity
work citywide
Next Steps
8