Equity Plan
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
DEI Team
Lisa Parson
Equity and Inclusion Manager
David Gardinier
Equity and Communications Coordinator
Delana G. Gbenekama
Special Assistant to the City Manager
on Equity and Community Recovery
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Agenda
1. What is the plan?
2. Advancing equity in challenging times
3. Equity as a value
4. Community comments & priorities
5. Goals 1-5
6. Project timeline
7. Recommended actions
8. What's ahead
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
What is the plan?
• City's first Citywide Equity Plan
• Created to build a strong foundation that
will equip the city to meaningfully apply
equity as a core value in every City
department
• Focused on building equity both within the
community and city hall
• Five-year workplan through 2030
• Responds to community and staff feedback
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Advancing Equity in Challenging Times
• Limited resources due to financial
constraints
• Operating with fewer staff than
pre-COVID-19
• Adversarial political environment
• Focused, manageable initiatives
with existing capacity and
resources
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Equity and Our Strategic Priorities
While equity is no longer a strategic priority,
it remains a core value. How does that play
out in reality? Our community has ideas.
Clean Streets and Safe Neighborhoods
"Making sure Public Works responses are equally
dispersed across the city and not based solely on
# of calls.”
Economic Opportunity and Growth
“Expanding our mindset to offer more low entry
economic pathways beyond street vending."
Affordable, Livable, Secure Housing for All
"Do better outreach into Communities of Color so we know about opportunities. Offer assistance with documentation for seniors and the disabled."
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Santa Monica's Demographics
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
• More than 60 community-led listening
sessions
• Participation from African American,
Latino (English/Spanish), Ethiopian,
Jewish, LGBTQ+, Muslim, disability,
senior, young adult, parent
communities, and more
• Community was first engaged to share
their priorities
• Re-engaged community to co-create
solutions based on top concerns
• Staff voices were also included through
two internal panels and a survey that
yielded 250 responses
Engaging Our Community
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Connecting youth with industry
mentors to guide them into career
paths
As first-generation immigrants, our
community members have
difficulties accessing crucial
information and getting help.
Create meaningful economic
development opportunities for
underrepresented groups.
Show that you care about
antisemitism and anti- Muslim
sentiment and acts in
the community.
Develop more transportation options
for the elderly and disabled during
the hours when MODE is
not available.
Economic opportunity can't just be street
vending or hotel work, develop partnerships
with gaming companies and aerospace for
people who are historically underrepresented but every bit as capable.
Create initiatives to local businesses
to support hiring intersectional
people with disabilities with
reasonable accommodations under
Title 1 of the ADA to promote stability
and equity.
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Community Priorities
• Diversity in leadership
• Cultural competency
training for City employees
• Equitable civic engagement
and public participation
• Economic development
opportunities for historically
marginalized
• Housing affordability
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 1
Confront and repair harms through
truth, healing and restorative action.
• Landback & Reparations Task Force
• Living into our Statement of
Accountability (Land Acknowledgment)
• Creating database of historically
displaced residents
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 2
Deepen trust and belonging
through inclusive community
engagement.
• Provide an Online Resource Hub
for Vulnerable Communities
• Launch Santa Monica
Community Connectors
Program
• Create the Santa Monica
Taxpayer Receipt
Taxpayer Receipt Example:
$17,000 taxes
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 3
Expand pathways to opportunity
for historically underserved
communities.
• Administer Equity Microgrant Program
• Create and Implement Aging and
Disability Plan
• Embed Equity into the Airport
Conversion Plan
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 4
Transform how government
works to deliver more
equitable outcomes.
• Bias awareness training for City
staff and hiring panels
• Snapshot of equity impact
assessments for staff reports
• Standardized identity categories
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 5
Build a culture where equity is
understood, practiced and
valued.
• Equity and bystander intervention
trainings
• History tours and film screenings
• Equity training at council orientation
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Project Completion: FY 2025-26
• Outreach to Non-English-Speaking Residents (RES)
• Conversations about Equity (CMO)
• Hate Speech Policy (CMO)
• Grants Assistance Guide (CMO + CDD + HHS)
• Multilingual Directory of City Services (CMO)
• Signage Acknowledging Tongva Land in
Tongva Park (CMO + RAD + PW)
• Community Mapping Initiative (Library)
• Increase Training in Crisis Intervention and
Cultural Sensitivity (SMPD)
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Project Completion: FY 2026-27
• Procurement Reform (FIN)
• Cannabis Social Equity Program (CDD)
• Community Conversations About Equity (CMO)
• Disability and Neurodivergence Training for Staff
(CMO)
• Taxpayer Receipt
• Cultural competence in Policing Community
Education Series (CMO + SMPD)
• Hate Speech Policy (CMO)
• SaMo Government 101 (CMO + City Clerk)
• We Are Santa Monica Equity Grants
• Mentorship Program (DOT)
• Landback and Reparations Task Force (CMO)
• Commemoration of Japanese Internment (CMO)
• Public Education and Truth Telling Event Series
(CMO)
• Increased Training for Fire Staff on Assisting Queer
Individuals in Distress (SMFD)
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
• Aging & Disability Action
Plan (CDD)
• 6-Month Community
Follow-up Policy (CMO)
• Financial Empowerment
Center (CMO + CDD + HHS)
Project Completion: FY 2027-29
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Project Completion: FY 2029-30 & Beyond
• Computer Donation for Youth (ISD)
• PW Equity Plan
• Cultural Celebrations (RAD & CMO)
• Cultural Tours (RAD & CMO)
• SaMo Mentoring Initiative (CMO)
• Standardized Identity Categories for City Work
(CMO)
• Equity Assessment Snapshot for staff reports
(CMO)
• Bias Training for Interview Panelists (CMO)
• Community Connectors Program (CMO)
• Digital Navigator Program (ISD)
• Participatory Budgeting Pilot (FIN)
• Construction of 8895 Housing Units (HHS)
• Leverage Pro-housing Designation and Incentivize
Affordable Housing (HHS)
• Detox and Sobering Center (HHS)
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
• Receive and approve the
Citywide Equity Plan
• Approve the budget
amendment transferring
the remaining funds
($32,496) earmarked for
equity in the We Are Santa
Monica Fund to the Santa
Monica Equity Grant Fund
Recommended Actions
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
What's Ahead This Year
• Continued focus on supporting
immigrant and trans communities
• Launch of Equity Grant Program
• Supporting Equity and Inclusion
Officers to complete department
projects in December
• Landback and Reparations Task Force
presentation to council November /
December 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Citywide Equity Plan
2025 - 2030
Photo by Leroy Hamilton Interpretive sign at Historic Belmar Park In the background, A Resurrection in Four Stanzas by April Banks, 2021.
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Contents
1 2
4 6
8 12
14 16
21 Philosophy on Equity
Overview and Plan Development
Key Definitions
Timeline of Racial Equity Milestones
Santa Monica’s Vibrant and Diverse Population
Foundational Commitments to Equity
Goals and Focus Areas
Key Projects
The Path Forward
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
The City of Santa Monica is committed to addressing past harms, breaking down systemic barriers, and advancing equity for all our community members.
The City of Santa Monica (City) has taken meaningful steps to advance racial equity through internal programs and community initiatives, leading with race while recognizing that this approach also drives equity across other social identities—including gender, sexual orientation, class, and ability. The city council reaffirmed its commitment to this work when it adopted Racial Justice, Equity, and Social Diversity as a priority at its March 11, 2023, workshop, along with the following statement:
City of Santa Monica’s Philosophy on Equity
The City of Santa Monica acknowledges the effects of generational and institutional racism and discrimination, and its consequences that continue to impact our residents and businesses. These lessons of our history cannot be ignored. The City is committed to advancing racial equity and social diversity to improve the well-being of people who live, work, learn, play, and do business in our city, and create a community where differences in life outcomes cannot be predicted by race, class, gender, disability, or other identities. Everyone in Santa Monica must have an opportunity to thrive.
Staff in every department in Santa Monica are tasked with:
• Identifying and rectifying the policies, practices, and behaviors that perpetuate racism, discrimination, and other negative race-based outcomes
• Cultivating an inclusive and fair environment where all people in Santa Monica, in particular disenfranchised Communities of Color, thrive in the areas of health, economic vitality, and connectedness
This Citywide Equity Plan was prepared to operationalize this city council commitment.
The following goals are embedded within the plan and are described in greater detail in the sections that follow:
GOAL 1
Confront and
Repair Harms
through Truth,
Healing, and
Restorative Action
GOAL 2
Deepen Trust
and Belonging
through Inclusive
Community
Engagement
GOAL 3
Expand Pathways
to Opportunity
for Historically
Underserved
Communities
GOAL 4
Transform How
Government
Works to Deliver
More Equitable
Outcomes
GOAL 5
Build a Culture
Where Equity
Is Understood,
Practiced, and
Valued
Citywide Equity Plan | 1
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Placing residents at the forefront allows the City to
unlock the wealth of knowledge, experiences, and
aspirations that lie within the community, and in
doing so creates ways for groups that traditionally
do not engage in government processes to be
heard. The development of the Citywide Equity
Plan followed traditional and nontraditional paths
to achieve this goal. The effort launched with a
panel discussion on strategic allyship in September
2023, followed by a seven-month community
engagement phase focused on identifying equity
priorities and challenges. The DEI team hosted
large public listening sessions, both in person
and online, and tried something new by offering
stipends to participants to ensure broader and
more inclusive engagement.
This new strategy brought in the most diverse range
of voices the City has ever heard from—African
Americans, Latinos (with input in both English and
Spanish), Ethiopians, Jewish residents, LGBTQ+
individuals, members of the disability community,
Muslim residents, seniors, young adults, parents,
and more. The groups hosted over 60 communityled listening sessions to share their community’s Overview and Plan Development
To structure the City’s Equity Plan, the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team focused on recognizing the diversity of communities who call Santa Monica home by taking time to learn their specific needs and hearing from those who do not traditionally participate in government processes. equity priorities. They met in homes, parks,
restaurants, schools, online, after a group bike ride,
and on the beach—wherever they felt they would
have the best conversation.
This inclusive approach ensured that the decisionmaking process reflects the diverse perspectives, needs, and priorities of the people it directly
impacts. Through this collaborative effort, we
can build trust, bridge divides, and forge a shared
vision that truly represents the collective will and
aspirations of the community.
Building on this input, the DEI team collaborated
with City departments to assess existing programs
and policies to address key community concerns.
In March 2024, the City re-engaged the community
through another round of stipend-supported
meetings—this time to co-create potential solutions
to the top issues identified in fall 2023.
The engagement effort also recognized the
important role City staff play in understanding the
Santa Monica community and designing solutions
to address their concerns. The DEI team hosted
2 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
an equity panel, attended by 80 staff members,
that featured seasoned public servants who now
lead impactful DEI work across the country. To
further include staff perspectives, the DEI team
administered an equity survey, both online and
on paper, to reach as many staff as possible. The
survey’s more than 250 responses reflected a wide
range of perspectives, from skepticism about the
organization’s commitment to equity to strong
expressions of support.
Before finalizing this Citywide Equity Plan, the
DEI team reconnected with community groups
who had helped shape its foundation, sharing
proposed initiatives, gathering final input,
and expressing gratitude for their continued
partnership. These groups played a vital role not
only in identifying early priorities but also in refining the plan’s direction—and many will remain involved
as collaborators in its implementation. Their
engagement has helped ensure the plan is rooted
in transparency, shared responsibility, and ongoing
community connection.
5 City-hosted public
listening sessions
73 community-led
meetings
32 community groups
engaged
257
equity staff survey
respondents
Citywide Equity Plan | 3
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Key Definitions
Belonging The feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group. It is when an individual can bring their authentic self to interactions (e.g., work, school, and church).
Source: Cornell University
Digital Equity A condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and economy. It is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services. Source: National Digital Inclusion Alliance Diversity A synonym for variety. A diversity focus emphasizes “how many of these” we have in a space or organization. For example, the City of Santa Monica has employees belonging to diverse groups characterized by various identifying traits, such as race, gender identity, ability, age, or religion. Diversity programs, cultural celebrations, and educational programs are not equivalent to racial justice or inclusion. It is possible to name, acknowledge, and celebrate diversity without doing anything to transform the institutional or structural systems that produce, and maintain, racialized injustices in our communities. Sources: Center for the Study of Social Policy and Anti-Defamation League
Equity Giving everyone what they need to thrive, based on an understanding that different people start in different places due to historical and current injustices. “Equity” is about equal outcomes. Source: Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) To support understanding of this Citywide Equity Plan, a list of key terms is provided below. Our goal is to ensure that everyone who lives, works, or spends time in Santa Monica can navigate the plan with confidence and clarity. It is important to understand that equity is not the same as equality.
This plan is rooted in equity: ensuring that individuals and communities receive the tailored support they need to thrive. The DEI team leads with race in its work because of the injustices that have negatively affected Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Research has shown that working on policies that help the most impacted groups will benefit people from all backgrounds (e.g., gender identity, sexual orientation, class, and ability).
This plan represents an important step toward creating internal programs and advancing community initiatives focused on racial equity, with the understanding that within each individual effort, a myriad of social identities–including gender, sexual orientation, class, and ability–benefit from the more inclusive policies generated by these efforts.
4 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Inclusion Authentically inviting the contribution and participation of all people, especially traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups, into processes, activities, and decision—and policymaking by providing equal access and opportunities in a way that shares power. Source: City of San Jose
Marginalized
Group
A particular group that is cast to the edge of society by a dominant group and is not allowed an active voice, identity, or place. This is done so the dominant group can maintain power. Source: Center for the Study of Social Policy Neurodiversity Refers to the natural differences in how people’s brains work—how we think, learn, process information, and interact with the world. These variations, which include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more, are a normal part of human diversity and help make our communities more creative, capable, and resilient. Source: The Cleveland Clinic
Racial Equity A process of eliminating racial disparities and improving outcomes for everyone.
It is the intentional and continual practice of changing policies, practices, systems, and structures by prioritizing measurable change in the lives of people of color. It’s when race can no longer be used to predict life outcomes. Sources:
Race Forward and GARE
Racism The marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges white people as a means to uphold white supremacy. Racism differs from prejudice, hatred, or discrimination because it requires one racial group to have power over other groups in society.
Often, racism is supported and maintained, both implicitly and explicitly, by institutional structures and policies, cultural norms and values, and individual behaviors. Sources: Anti-Defamation League and Center for the Study of Social Policy Underserved “Underserved” refers to people or communities that haven’t had fair access to the resources, services, or opportunities they need—often because their voices and needs have been historically overlooked or undervalued in decision-making.
Source: Law Insider
Citywide Equity Plan | 5
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Timeline of Racial Equity Milestones
The following timeline highlights key milestones in Santa Monica’s journey toward racial equity.
2017 2018-19 2019-21 2020
The City joins the
Government Alliance
on Racial Equity.
The city council directs staff to
create a multi-departmental
initiative focused on improving
social and economic
outcomes for residents of the
Pico Neighborhood as part of
the Pico Wellbeing Project.
The City produces the Belmar History + Art
project, a multidisciplinary public art and
civic commemoration bringing art, history,
and community together to illuminate the
experiences of African American residents,
visitors, and businesses in the historic
Belmar neighborhood of Santa Monica's
civic center area. The success of this project
inspires the Cultural Affairs Division to found
"Acknowledge and Reframe Together," a
framework for future civic memory projects.
The city council approves
the formation of the
Racial Equity Committee,
adopts a racial equity
statement, and authorizes
the implementation of
public safety reform.
6 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
2021 2022 2024
The city council approves
the Right to Return policy,
creating the first opportunity
for historically displaced
communities to return
to Santa Monica via the
affordable housing program.
The city council adopts a statement of
apology to Santa Monica’s African American
residents and their descendants.
As part of the "Reframe" initiative, the City holds
communitywide conversations about the Works Progress
Administration mural in the lobby of historic City Hall.
These discussions result in 10 recommendations from
the council, including a directive to add new interpretive signage and artwork to the lobby, along with direction on other equity programs, such as a focus on First Peoples.
The City establishes the DEI team.
The City collaborates with the
Tongva peoples to create a land
statement of accountability.
Citywide Equity Plan | 7
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Santa Monica is home to a racially, culturally, and economically diverse population, with residents representing a wide range of income levels, educational backgrounds, and life experiences.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 estimates, the city’s demographic composition is 66.9% White, 16.4% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 4.9% Black or African American, and 13.2% identifying as multiracial. Of the total population, 23% identify as foreign-born.
These statistics, however, do not capture the rich and varied histories and experiences nor do they fully reflect the multitude of other communities and groups—defined by language, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more—that contribute to the fabric of life in Santa Monica.
This rich mixture of cultures and backgrounds contributes to the city’s dynamic character and underscores the importance of Santa Monica’s equity initiatives.
Santa Monica has a deeply layered history shaped by the presence of these diverse communities, whose cultural, social, and economic influences continue to enrich the wider community today.
Some of these diverse communities have faced challenges including moments of exclusion and inequity, elements of which too often persist today. Recognizing and understanding this past strengthens our commitment to building a more inclusive future. Many of the communities that have contributed to the Santa Monica of today are shown on the following page.
Santa Monica’s Vibrant and Diverse Population
8 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Black Community
The Black community in Santa Monica has
experienced generations of systemic exclusion,
from redlining and beach segregation to
displacement from neighborhoods like the
Belmar Triangle during urban renewal. “The
Inkwell” beach was one of the few safe
recreational spaces for Black families in the
20th century. Since 1980, the Black population in
Santa Monica has steadily declined due to rising
costs and disinvestment, and the community
continues to experience anti-Black racism
in everyday life. Today, Black residents are
calling for reparative justice such as monetary
compensation, the return of community land,
expanded Black homeownership, and ongoing
investment in Black-led organizations.
Chinese Community
Chinese immigrants first arrived in Santa
Monica in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
often facing severe discrimination, restrictive
housing laws, and displacement during
redevelopment. Despite these barriers, they
built businesses and contributed significantly
to the city’s growth. Today, Chinese
residents and broader Asian communities
seek greater visibility, inclusion in public life,
protection from anti-Asian hate, and culturally
responsive City services, including improved
language access and representation.
Disability Community
People with disabilities have historically been
excluded from city planning, public spaces,
and employment opportunities in Santa
Monica. Despite landmark protections like
the Americans with Disabilities Act, barriers
to physical access, economic inclusion,
and equitable healthcare remain. Today,
residents with disabilities are advocating
for a city fully designed with accessibility in
mind, including expanded accessible housing,
reliable paratransit services such as a northsouth shuttle, and greater City investment in inclusive infrastructure and hiring practices.
Citywide Equity Plan | 9
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Indigenous Community –
The Tongva Peoples
The Tongva are the original inhabitants of the
Santa Monica area, with deep ancestral ties
and complex cultural systems that long predate
colonization. Colonization, forced relocation, and
loss of land rights devastated their communities.
Despite this history, the Tongva people continue
efforts to preserve their language, culture,
and presence in the region. Today, Indigenous
residents are calling for formal recognition,
structured inclusion in City initiatives, and the
integration of Indigenous perspectives into
public policy, cultural events, and education.
Japanese American Community
Japanese American families once formed a vibrant
part of Santa Monica’s farming and business
community. Their lives were disrupted during
World War II, when they were forcibly removed
and imprisoned at incarceration camps, often
losing homes and livelihoods. Although reparations
were granted decades later, the impact of this
displacement still resonates. Today, Japanese
American residents and their descendants seek
to preserve this history, promote racial justice,
and support cultural programming that honors
their legacy and protects against future harm.
Jewish Community
Jewish residents have been active contributors
to Santa Monica’s civic, cultural, and professional
life for generations. However, they have also
faced exclusion—from restrictive housing
policies in the past to continued antisemitic
incidents today. Synagogues and Jewish
institutions have experienced vandalism, and
residents report ongoing bias. Community
members are calling for robust City responses
to antisemitism, including hate crime prevention
strategies, visible public support, improved
safety measures, and educational efforts
that promote understanding and inclusion.
Latino Community
Latinos have long contributed to the economic
and cultural fabric of Santa Monica, especially in
the Pico neighborhood. They faced segregation,
housing discrimination, and displacement
during urban renewal efforts in the mid-20th
century. Many families lost their homes, schools,
and community centers. Today, rising housing
costs and redevelopment pressures continue to
threaten long-standing Latino neighborhoods.
Residents are advocating for stronger tenant
protections, affordable housing, economic
development for Latino-owned businesses, and
preservation of cultural institutions and traditions.
LGBTQ+ Community
The LGBTQ+ community has long struggled for
safety, recognition, and equal rights in Santa
Monica. In earlier decades, LGBTQ+ individuals
faced police harassment and were ignored during
the AIDS crisis. More recently, the loss of LGBTQ+
venues and unaffordable housing have eroded
10 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
safe spaces. Today, LGBTQ+ residents advocate
for a dedicated community center, expanded
access to gender-affirming healthcare, inclusive
housing policies, and ongoing community visibility
to ensure that Santa Monica remains a place
where queer and trans people can thrive.
Middle Eastern Community
Middle Eastern families—including immigrants from
Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and other countries—began
settling in Santa Monica in significant numbers
in the latter part of the 20th century. They have
made important contributions in retail, education,
and civic life. However, racial and religious
profiling, particularly after 9/11, and ongoing
stereotyping have created persistent barriers.
Today, Middle Eastern residents seek better
representation in City leadership, public education
about their cultures and histories, and protection
against bias and exclusion in civic spaces.
Seniors
Older adults in Santa Monica have contributed
greatly to the community, but many now face
barriers to aging with dignity. Fixed incomes,
rising housing costs, mobility challenges, and
social isolation can threaten their independence
and well-being. Seniors are calling for expanded
transportation options, case management
services, mental health resources, and housing
programs that support aging in place. A key
priority is ensuring that policies and services
are tailored to help seniors remain active,
connected, and safe within their communities.
Youth and Students
Santa Monica’s youth face growing pressures
around education, affordability, and access to
opportunity. While young people benefit from
the City’s educational and cultural offerings,
many—especially those from historically
marginalized communities—struggle to find
mentorship, enrichment opportunities, and clear
pathways to higher education or well-paying
jobs. Youth and families have called for increased
investment in after-school programs, college
readiness initiatives, mental health services,
and financial support for higher education
to help ensure a more equitable future.
Recognizing these histories is essential to
understanding why equity initiatives are not
just needed, but imperative. They ensure that
all individuals have access to opportunities
and a sense of belonging in our city. The
lessons of the past inform our path forward,
guiding policies that foster inclusion and
promote equitable outcomes for all.
Footnote: Additional historical and educational information about each of our diverse community groups can be found on the City’s website at www.santamonica.gov/equity.
The City’s diversity is one of its strengths, and it is important to remember that historical patterns continue to shape the social and economic landscape of Santa Monica today.
Citywide Equity Plan | 11
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Many initiatives are already in motion that demonstrate the City’s ongoing commitment to equity.
This section highlights examples of foundational commitments to equity in Santa Monica— operational efforts that are actively shaping a more inclusive and responsive local government. These examples reflect the essential work being done across departments to embed equity into City policies, programs, and practices, serving as critical elements toward long-term systemic change.
Reciting the land statement of accountability (co-created with Tongva peoples in 2024) at city council meetings and making demonstrable commitments in uplifting Tongva voices.
Restructuring the procurement process to remove long-standing barriers and expand access, ensuring that contracts are no longer concentrated among a small, homogenous group of firms but instead reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
Foundational Commitments to Equity
12 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Supporting the celebrations of significant dates for Santa Monica’s Communities of Color and working across departments to amplify and resource these celebrations.
Improving engagement with the City’s boards and commissions through a variety of ways, including translating all city council and Rent Control Board agendas into SpanishVQPOSFRVFTU, and offering implicit bias training for commissioners.
Offering a nine-month mentorship program (SaMo Mentoring Initiative) to provide professional development opportunities for City of Santa Monica staff.
Collaborating with the California Conference for Equality and Justice to provide a training series covering core equity concepts and definitions across a range of topics to advance equity throughout our organizational culture.
Maintaining a public database of resources available to immigrant and other vulnerable communities in the changing political climate.
Partnering with Right to Be to support and empower our community members to take a stand against hate and intolerance. Collaborating with the California Conference for Equality and Justice to expand the “Conversations about Equity” dialogue series to the public.
Convening members of Santa Monica’s marginalized communities to form the Landback and Reparations Task Force, which is examining the harms done to those communities and exploring how to repair those harms.
Partnering with community members and organizations to provide history tours and host film screenings highlighting the histories of Communities of Color Citywide Equity Plan | 13
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Five broad, multi-year goals have been identified for the Citywide Equity Plan. These goals emerged through community input, staff collaboration and data analysis. Each goal is supported by a set of established focus areas that guide the City’s long-term equity efforts.
Goals and Focus Areas
Goal 1: Confront and Repair
Harms through Truth,
Healing, and Restorative
Action
Acknowledge the City’s role
in past and present harm and
partner with communities
to design and implement
repair, using restorative justice
principles as a path to healing
and systemic change.
Goal 3: Expand Pathways to
Opportunity for Historically
Underserved Communities
Expand opportunities in housing,
education, economic mobility,
and wellness for members of
communities that have long
faced disinvestment.
Goal 2: Deepen Trust and
Belonging through Inclusive
Community Engagement
Commit to being a city
government that listens to
communities who have been
historically marginalized,
reflects on past and present
impacts, and works with these
communities to find meaningful
and healing solutions.
FOCUS AREAS
• Expand the understanding
of Santa Monica history
through preservation, art and
storytelling.
• Implement a Santa Monica
reparations program and
policy framework.
• Honor the contributions
of underrepresented
communities to Santa Monica.
FOCUS AREAS
• Build trusted relationships
with community groups.
• Reimagine Santa Monica’s
community engagement
to ensure more voices are
represented.
• Develop tools and processes
to create a broader
understanding of Santa
Monica’s services and budget.
• Support cultural celebrations
to create a better
understanding of different
cultures and histories within
Santa Monica.
FOCUS AREAS
• Develop specific plans and
strategies to advance equity
of different groups.
• Expand opportunities to
access affordable housing
and ownership.
• Broaden the community’s
understanding of equity
issues and integrate this
understanding into major
City initiatives to expand
community benefits for
historically underserved
groups.
14 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 5: Build a Culture
Where Equity Is Understood,
Practiced, and Valued
Create a workplace culture
where everyone feels included
and equity is understood and
practiced by staff, leaders, and
community partners.
Goal 4: Transform How
Government Works to
Deliver More Equitable
Outcomes
Deliver City services and
programs that are accessible,
safe, and welcoming to all,
supporting learning, connection,
and fair access across the
community.
FOCUS AREAS
• Set up clear ways to measure
progress and learn how City
actions affect people from
different backgrounds.
• Implement policies and
allocate resources to break
down systemic barriers to
City services and reduce
implicit and explicit bias when
working with the community.
• Expand opportunities
for representation and
inclusion on City boards and
commissions, task forces,
advisory boards, and other
working groups.
FOCUS AREAS
• Cultivate an organizational
culture that leads with equity.
• Expand opportunities for
people to work and be
promoted in City positions.
• Develop a broader
understanding of equity
and inclusion in the City’s
workforce through training
and City policies.
Santa Monica is
a city that values
diversity, inclusion,
and equity, and
we are committed
to upholding these
principles.
Lana Negrete, Mayor
Citywide Equity Plan | 15
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
This section contains key projects and initiatives to advance equity in meaningful ways within each of the five goals. Together, these goals, focus areas, and projects form a roadmap for creating a more inclusive and equitable community— where every resident feels valued, supported, and able to access the resources and opportunities they need.
The projects listed below reflect the City’s commitment to advancing equity. Funding will be evaluated annually, with City staff actively pursuing public-private partnerships and alternative funding sources to support implementation. Each project includes a description, the lead department, and a timeline.
Key Projects
Goal 1: Confront and Repair Harms through
Truth, Healing, and Restorative Action
Create harms report on City actions that have harmed marginalized communities | 2026 Conduct a harms report, in conjunction with the Landback and Reparations Task Force, of the harms done to Santa Monica’s marginalized communities and recommend ways for the City to repair that harm.
Recognize Tongva history | 2027
Install signs at strategic locations across the city to raise awareness that we are on the land of Gabrieleño/Tongva.
Develop database of displaced residents | 2027
Develop database of all the people who were displaced by City actions through eminent domain to further the City’s repair work with them.
Implement recommendations from repair study | 2025-2030 Implement the Landback and Reparations Task Force’s recommendations from the repair study.
Address needs for rehabilitation programs | 2026-2030
Develop supportive housing for those with substance abuse issues and construct a new detox and sobering center.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
Acknowledge the City’s role in past and present harm and partner with communities to design and implement repair, using restorative justice principles as a path to healing and systemic change.
16 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 2: Deepen Trust and Belonging through
Inclusive Community Engagement
Institute a Santa Monica Community Connectors Program | 2025 Convene community leaders who represent the diverse identities of the community to improve communication with the communities the City historically has not connected with.
Establish and maintain an equity-focused contact list | 2026 Create and maintain a list of contacts from marginalized communities in Santa Monica to increase communication and share opportunities with these groups.
Provide resource quick list in multiple languages | 2025 Create a contact list of the City’s most frequently used services, available in the most commonly spoken languages in Santa Monica.
Establish a comprehensive city grant and assistance resource guide | 2027 Create and maintain a centralized, user-friendly list of the City’s grants and resources available to the public.
Implement a pilot community participatory budget program | 2030 Invite the community to directly shape a portion of the City’s budget through a structured community engagement process.
Implement new community engagement feedback standards | 2027 Develop protocol to close the feedback loop on projects that involve extensive community engagement by reporting back to community about the progress of the project at the six- and 12-month mark.
Distribute a taxpayer receipt | 2026
Develop a taxpayer receipt—a personalized summary that shows residents how their local tax dollars are distributed across City services–to foster greater transparency and strengthen public trust.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
C I T Y M A N AG E R ’ S O F F I C E & F I N A N C E D E PA RT M E N T Commit to being a city government that listens to communities who have been historically marginalized, reflects on past and present impacts, and works with these communities to find meaningful and healing solutions.
Citywide Equity Plan | 17
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 3: Expand Pathways to Opportunity for
Historically Underserved Communities
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
Support resident financial empowerment services | 2030
Develop programs focused on supporting individuals in their capacity to increase their financial standing through financial literacy training, micro lending services, and credit counseling, with guidance from expert partners (e.g., Richmond’s Office of Community Wealth Building).
Administer an equity microgrant program | 2026
The We Are Santa Monica Fund will transfer the funds earmarked for equity-focused initiatives to the DEI team to facilitate the administration of a microgrant program that will empower residents to launch community-led programs that advance equity in their neighborhoods.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & ALL DEPARTMENTS
Facilitate resident benefit from 2028 Olympics | 2028
Actively work, through involvement of the DEI team, to ensure that planning for the 2028 Olympics ensures that any benefits gained from the proximity are extended to all residents including those that are historically underrepresented in City events.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Advance equity as part of the Santa Monica Airport conversion | 2030 Advance equity on the site of the airport’s conversion, including the construction of a multicultural center and the rewilding of the land in accordance with native practices, in partnership with tribal groups and the Kuruvungna Springs Foundation.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Adult-use cannabis social equity program | 2025-2027
Develop policy options so those negatively impacted by federal and state enforcement policies can benefit from the newly legalized industry.
HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
Facilitate an increase in affordable housing | 2029
Facilitate the development of 8,895 new housing units between 2021 and 2029, as mandated by the Regional Housing Needs Assessment.
Create an aging and disability plan | 2028
Create an age-and disability-friendly action plan to address the current, emerging, and future needs of Santa Monica’s older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers.
INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Advance digital equity through distribution of used City computers | 2025-2030 Distribute used City computers in good condition to community members who need them, and provide a digital navigators program.
Expand opportunities in housing, education, economic mobility and wellness for members of communities that have long faced disinvestment.
18 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 4: Transform How Government Works
to Deliver More Equitable Outcomes
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
Initiate a communication project for non-desk employees | 2026 Initiate a partnership with the Department of Transportation and Public Works to develop new approaches for providing information to City staff who do not work at desks.
Conduct equity impact assessments | 2026-2030
The assessment, included in all staff reports, gives the council a simple and consistent framework for evaluating equity impacts of proposed policies, programs and services, allowing them to make informed, data-driven decisions that advance fairness and inclusion.
C I T Y M A N AG E R ’ S O F F I C E & A L L D EPA RT M E N TS Develop and implement standardized identity categories | 2025 Implement a standardized set of identity categories to be used citywide for all City surveys and forms, to provide greater insight into who our programs are reaching, who they are working for, and who may be missing from our considerations.
C I T Y M A N AG E R ’ S O F F I C E & C I T Y AT TO R N E Y Develop an identity-based abuse in the workplace policy | 2026 Develop a policy to outline when communications with the public cross the line into abuse and/ or identity-based harassment, as well as how to proceed when such incidents occur.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & HUMAN RESOURCES
Implement bias awareness training to promote equity in hiring | 2026 Implement bias awareness training for City staff who serve on interview panels, aOEQSPWJEF training to better evaluate responses to questions regarding DEI.
CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
Offer a Government 101 class | 2028
Provide a Government 101 class to engage community members of all backgrounds so they understand city government and are encouraged to participate on boards and commissions.
D E PA RT M E N T O F T R A N S P O RTAT I O N
Implement a Department of Transportation (DOT) mentorship program | 2026 Enhance retention and recruitment by launching a mentorship program for DOT staff.
F I N A N C E D E PA RT M E N T
Implement changes in procurement processes to increase economic opportunity for residents | 2030 Develop one- and five-year strategic plans to improve the City’s procurement processes for both external and internal stakeholders. These changes are directly responsive to a shared priority within the community: increased economic opportunity for those who live here.
Deliver City services and programs that are accessible, safe, and welcoming to all, supporting learning, connection, and fair access across the community.
Citywide Equity Plan | 19
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Goal 5: Build a Culture Where Equity Is
Understood, Practice, and Valued
Create a workplace culture where everyone feels included and equity is understood and practiced by staff, leaders, and community partners.
CITY COUNCIL
Include equity training in city council orientation process | 2026-2030 Provide equity training to all councilmembers as part of the orientation process to increase their understanding of the City’s and community’s collective role in addressing racial equity.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
Elevate awareness of transgender inclusion | 2025-2026
Launch a series of community dialogues to elevate awareness of transgender issues, rights, and legal protections in partnership with the League of Women Voters.
Provide staff training focused on racial, disability, neurodiversity, and LGBTQ+ equity | 2025-2028 Collaborate with the California Conference for Equality and Justice on the 12-session “Conversations about Equity” virtual dialogue series to help employees understand equity SFMBUFEUPQJDT, engage in effective dialogue, and explore tools for BEWBODJOH equity in their daily work. Collaborate with CultureAlly to deliver annual trainings focused on disability inclusion and neurodivergence. Partner with Right to Be to support and empower our employees to take a stand against hate and intolerance.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES
Initiate immigrant rights awareness series | 2025-2026
Launch an ongoing series of community events and service. focused on "Know Your Rights" events, one-on-one legal clinics, and family preparedness planning to address changes from the federal government for undocumented persons, visa and green card holders.
Goal 4: Transform How Government Works
to Deliver More Equitable Outcomes
LIBRARY
Advance Community Mapping | 2026
Implement Community Mapping initiative, incorporating quantitative and qualitative surveys, facilitated focus groups, one-to-one interviews, and other methods of engagement to identify community needs and aspirations.
PUBLIC WORKS
Create a Public Works equity plan | 2026-2028
Develop a comprehensive equity plan for 1ublic 8orks staff that will incorporate staff development, professional mobility, and *ndigenous land management. 20 | City of Santa Monica
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
The Path Forward
Achieving the goals of this Citywide Equity Plan will
require the shared commitment of many people
City staff, elected officials, various stakeholders,
and members of our community. The DEI team will
work closely with departments to monitor
progress on equity-related initiatives and provide
regular updates to the city council, employees,
and the community.
To make sure our equity efforts are making a real
difference, the City will use a clear and consistent
way to track progress. Each project will involve
setting specific goals, taking actions to meet those
goals, and measuring whether those actions are
helping people. We’ll look at how much we did,
how well we did it, and whether it helped improve
people’s lives. Every action will have a timeline
and a designated person or team responsible for
follow-through.
www.santamonica.gov/equity
Goal 5: Build a Culture Where Equity Is
Understood, Practice, and Valued
P O L I C E D E PA RT M E N T
Increase training in crisis intervention and cultural sensitivity | 2026 Partner with the Public Safety Reform and Oversight Commission to share information about the department’s implicit bias, transgender inclusion, and cultural sensitivity training with the community.
Strengthen recruitment, hiring, and promotion practices that reflect community diversity and equity values | Ongoing
Recruit and promote a diverse and representative police force, with current outcomes showing UIBUUIF4BOUB.POJDB1PMJDF%FQBSUNFOU exceeds citywide diversity benchmarks and national averages for women in law enforcement. These results reflect long-standing efforts to embed equity in recruitment, training, and culture—not just recent reforms.
F I R E D E PA RT M E N T
Increase training for Fire staff on assisting queer individuals in distress | 2027 Focus on building Fire Department staff capacity to recognize, respond to, and support the unique needs of queer individuals in crisis situations.
In the first year, all DEI-led efforts will use this full tracking system so we can learn what’s working
and what needs to change. What we learn
will help shape a public dashboard in 2026, so
anyone—residents, staff, and City leaders—can
see how we’re doing. Over time, we’ll support
all departments in using this approach so equity
becomes part of how the City plans, budgets, and
delivers services.
At its heart, this work is about more than numbers.
It’s about making sure every Santa Monica
resident
no matter who they are
has a fair chance
to feel safe, supported, and included. The projects
described in this report are intentional first steps—
rooted in what’s possible today, while laying the
groundwork for the future. They reflect a
commitment to meaningful, forward-moving
progress that can grow over time. With the right
tools and community partnership, we can turn
good intentions into real, lasting change.
For additional information and updates, please visit:
Citywide Equity Plan | 21
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 | (310) 458-8411 | santamonica.gov This Citywide Equity Plan is both a roadmap and a living document, designed to evolve as community needs shift and new insights emerge.
Rooted in the voices of residents and staff, the plan aims to ensure that all community members, regardless of race, gender, ability, or background, have equitable access to opportunities, resources, and City services.
Prepared by:
The following are a few of the partner organizations the City collaborated with UP develop this plan:
• African American Parent Student Staff Support
Group
• Black African American Parent Advisory Committee
• Black Agenda
• Black Santa Monica Community Group
• Committee for Racial Justice
• Disability Community Resource Center
• Ethiopian Community in Santa Monica
• Familias Latinas Unidad
• 4BOUB.POJDBInterfaith Council
• Santa Monica Bay Area
Human Relations Council
• Santa Monica Black
Empowerment Association
• Santa Monica College
• Santa Monica-Malibu
Council of PTAs
The following staff are part of the City
of Santa Monica's Diversity Equity and
Inclusion team:
Lisa Parson, Equity and Inclusion
Manager
Delana G. Gbenekama, Special
Assistant to the City Manager on
Equity and Community Recovery
David Gardinier, Equity and
Communications Coordinator
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025
Item 11-A
July 29, 2025