Seattle Office for Civil Rights’ 2025 Year in Review
December 19, 2025
SOCR’s team of hardworking staff, whose commitment to equity and service makes makes our work possible.
Q&A with Denise Daniels, SOCR’s New RSJ Division Director
September 25, 2025
The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) recently welcomed Denise Daniels (she/her) as the new director of the department’s Race and Social Justice (RSJ) Division. The Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) is the City of Seattle’s commitment to end institutional racism in City government and achieve racial equity. Established… [ Keep reading ]
Historic Race & Social Justice Ordinance Passed by Councilmember Morales, Mayor Harrell, Office for Civil Rights
April 20, 2023
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
March 10, 2023
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 ]
City Racial Equity Actions: 2022 Highlights
May 31, 2022
Since the Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) launched the City Racial Equity Actions webpage in 2021, departments across the City of Seattle have uploaded 396 Racial Equity Plans (REP). The database is now updated with new projects that will start in 2022. It contains short-term and long-term projects to… [ Keep reading ]
New racial equity research tools
December 8, 2021
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 ]
The Shape of Trust
September 15, 2021
Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative releases new guide for creating transformational, anti-racist workplaces Seattle – September 20, 2021 The Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) at the City of Seattle is proud to present the next stage in a project years in the making. The Shape of Trust provides tools for supervisors, managers, HR advisers, and others organizing for transformational, anti-racist change. Arts, culture, mindfulness, and embodiment are used to create organizational cultures rooted… [ Keep reading ]