ABSTRACT
This chapter offers an empirical, applied examination of the preceding conceptual discussions by examining the city of Seattle's pioneering journey in navigating a nervous area of government-race and social justice. Through the city's ongoing efforts to analyze the treatment and experiences of the public they serve, their dominant concern is to develop and deliver governmental services that prioritize racial justice. As prominently stated on the city's website, the Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) is a citywide effort to end institutionalized racism and race-based disparities in city government. RSJI builds on the work of the civil rights movement and the ongoing efforts of individuals and groups in Seattle to confront racism. The people's Institute worked with the Seattle community to have open discussions about race. Prior to the RSJI, the Seattle Office of Civil Rights (SOCR) was largely a complaint-driven, case-by-case operation. Core team members received intensive training on institutional racism, group facilitation, problem solving, and strategic action planning.
