About
The Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) represents the City of Seattle’s commitment to ending racial disparities and achieving racial equity. We challenge racism and other forms of oppression to make Seattle a city of thriving, powerful communities that fosters healing and belonging.
The passage of Council Bill 120525 in 2023 made RSJI a permanent part of the City of Seattle and established long-term objectives for the Initiative. We align those institutional objectives with racial justice campaigns led by BIPOC communities.
Who We Are
RSJI is a small team of equity practitioners in the Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR). We apply a racial justice framework to the SOCR Values.
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Seattle Office for Civil Rights Values
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Our work builds on the long history of racial justice organizing in the Seattle community and the City of Seattle workplace. Today, we collaborate with colleagues who advocate for racial equity across every branch in the City of Seattle.
What We Do
RSJI embeds racial equity and social justice principles into the City’s programs, budgets, and culture. Our holistic work focuses on organizing for racial justice, capacity building, foundational knowledge about race, and personal accountability to advancing equity.
RSJI's strategies for change focus on Culture Shift, Gatherings, and Partnerships.
Learn more about RSJI's current work
Principles
The RSJ Division’s work is grounded by five principles. We use principles pillars to guide our decision-making and strategies.
- Center those most impacted.
- Justice should be the first consideration, not the last.
- Healing is a necessary pathway to justice.
- Inclusion is intersectional.
- Reflection is a means of r/evolution.