misconception diverse communities are a monolith. • Acting as judge and jury by defining equity and deciding equity has been achieved, without community confirmation. • A conscious or subconscious expectation or implication that equity communities be grateful
for whatever benefits the project delivers, regardless of whether they address the communities’ priorities.
EQUITY IN PROJECT OUTCOMES
EQUITY GOALS & MEASUREMENTS Equity in project outcomes is not achieved by good intentions, but rather the integration of equity strategies in technical works streams. This section outlines key focus areas that together define the technical work of the Stitch, including Mobility & Access, Land Use & Zoning, Parks & Public Space Design, Economic Development, and Housing. Each of these focus areas are assigned a unique suite of equity goals and measurements. The measurements include quantitative and qualitative equity strategies that identify a baseline and ways to improve that baseline. Intentionally, the equity goals do not specify an exact performance metric, as such a number can be arbitrary or infeasible. There are references to a project area in the equity goals and measurements section. The equity work will explore a 1-mile radius from the project site based on the premise that a complete community approach to the project should cascade project site benefits to the surrounding community in each of the focus areas described. There is naturally overlap in the equity work across the focus areas. For example, economic development and housing are inextricably linked. However, the purpose of itemizing goals for different focus areas is to provide a clear set of contributions to equitable outcomes for the subject matter experts of each focus area. Often, team members are equity champions, but don’t know what to do differently in their realm of work to support equity. This section should serve as a guide and inspiration for comprehensive equity assessment and strategies.
MOBILITY & ACCESS
HOW CAN EQUITABLE MOBILITY AND ACCESS IMPROVE THE STITCH? Mobility and access should be people-centric, prioritizing human needs and planning infrastructure around those needs that support a diversity of transportation choices. A person should be able to travel from an equity community up to one mile away to the project site and enjoy an experience that is consistently easy, safe, and welcoming. Too often, transportation is designed to inspire specific travel behavior from people with the privilege of many choices, rather than support the needs of people with
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