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2023 Year in Review

As 2023 comes to an end, the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) is reflecting upon the ways in which we worked in partnership with powerful communities to advance civil rights, end barriers to equity, and cultivate shared healing and belonging. Together, we:   Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) Commissions … [ Keep reading ]

Seattle Announces $27M in Winning Participatory Budgeting Projects

Six proposals selected through the community voting process SEATTLE (November 21) – Following a month-long voting period, Seattle’s $27 million participatory budgeting (PB) process resulted in six winning proposals to improve community safety through investments in education, housing, mental health, and economic development. Over 4,000 people voted on PB proposals… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle Participatory Budgeting Vote Launches October 10th

Seattle Office for Civil Rights announces community members can vote to decide how $27.25 million of the City of Seattle budget will be allocated Seattle, WA – As the historic Participatory Budgeting (PB) process comes to a close, the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) and third-party administrators Participatory Budgeting… [ Keep reading ]

Seattle Human Rights Commission Seeks Candidates

SEATTLE, WA – The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) is currently recruiting to fill seventeen vacancies on the Seattle Human Rights Commission. The Commission seeks candidates with diverse backgrounds in human rights, law, public policy, advocacy, social services, education, and business. Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor, City Council,… [ Keep reading ]

Historic Race & Social Justice Ordinance Passed by Councilmember Morales, Mayor Harrell, Office for Civil Rights

SEATTLE – Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales (District 2 – Southeast Seattle & Chinatown-International District), Mayor Bruce Harrell, and Seattle Office for Civil Rights Director Derrick Wheeler-Smith celebrated the unanimous passage of an ordinance officially codifying the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) into law. This will permanently solidify… [ Keep reading ]

Healing, Belonging, and Unity Highlighted at Race & Social Justice Summit

Featured speakers—Dr. Ben Danielson, filmmaker Gilda Sheppard, Rachel Heaton, community leaders and city staff Seattle, WA – The Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI), in partnership with Seattle Center and Converge Media, will host its annual RSJI Summit event on March 23 and 24 as a hybrid event. This is the first… [ Keep reading ]

Statement on Tyre Nichols

A statement on the murder of Tyre Nichols from Seattle Office for Civil Rights Director Derrick Wheeler-Smith.

Participatory Budgeting moves forward in City of Seattle

Seattle Office for Civil Rights announces Participatory Budgeting Project as awardee for Participatory Budgeting contract. Seattle, WA – The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) has selected the third-party administrator who will run the Participatory Budgeting process in the City of Seattle. The awardee of the request for proposal is… [ Keep reading ]

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights announces awardees for $1 million Collective Network fund

The Seattle Office for Civil Rights is excited to announce two awardees for the 2021 Collective Network Community Alternatives to Incarceration and Policing Request for Proposal: the Liberation Medicine School and the Lavender Rights Project. In August 2021, SOCR launched the Collective Network Request for Proposal, that focused on Community… [ Keep reading ]

New racial equity research tools

City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative releases new Racial Equity Research and City Actions websites The Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) at the City of Seattle launched new websites with in-depth information and data about racial equity issues in the Seattle area, as well as a database of actions the City… [ Keep reading ]