Project Summary
This one-year project examines how intentional human-designed policies and practices in California transportation, housing, land use and environmental systems have caused or contributed to today’s racial inequities in access to basic human needs. Our applied research team includes leading racial equity, urban planning, and environmental justice leaders: PI Dr. Charisma Acey, research director of IURD; Co-PI Margaretta Lin with IURD (transitioning from
her current role with Just Cities); Project Manager Diana Benitez, Associate Planning Justice Director with Just Cities; and EJ leader Ms. Margaret Gordon, co-founder of the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP). This work will support the anti-racism and racial equity lens of ITS and state agencies through a culturally-competent, transformative justice framework. The methodology includes convening an Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC), about 50 stakeholder interviews and focus groups, six case studies, a preliminary impact analysis to assess public policy root causes of racial inequities, and preliminary modeling of alternative policies, investments and scenarios. We will provide decision-makers and advocates with a ‘how to’ for a transformative justice approach to community engagement, the screening method, case studies, and a policy brief to prevent current and future harm for people of color and other vulnerable populations.
