Background
Action for Equity was formed in 2017 from the merger of Action for Regional Equity and On the Move for Transportation Justice. The coalition currently has 13 community organizational members. Its primary purpose is to create and implement policies to address the issue of race and class inequities. Bringing together advocates from housing, jobs, transportation and health, has allowed Action (led by people from impacted neighborhoods) to promote a holistic approach for reducing disparities faced by communities of color and low-income in the greater Boston region.
Mission
As a coalition of community-based and social justice organizations, we are working to address structural racism and longstanding inequities and ensure that all people, and particularly people of color, have quality housing, good jobs and job access, environmental quality, and transportation access, among other things as steps to reach the society we want.
Vision
Action is fighting for an equitable society where power is held by all, regardless of race, class and gender, as well as sexual orientation, age, faith, geography, or physical ability; where the disparities resulting from a history of embedded structural racism are not just gone, but people are made whole; where the benefits of our collective endeavors in government, community building, development, and progress in general are felt by all. We are fighting for a society in which the oppression of some is not used to benefit others and where neither race nor anything else is used as a dividing line.
EQUITY STATEMENT
We know what equity is—it is just and fair inclusion and access to power. An equitable society is one in which all can participate and prosper. The goals of equity must be to create conditions that allow all to reach their full potential. In short, equity creates a path from hope to change. Equity is designed to address the inequalities of race, class and gender. Equity is manifested in living wage jobs, viable housing choices, affordable public transportation, good schools, strong social networks, safe and walkable streets, adequate public services, safe and well maintained parks, access to healthy food and other fundamental needs that affect the quality of life. Achieving equity requires developing cross sector strategies through authentic participation led by those most impacted.
We know what equity is—it is just and fair inclusion and access to power. An equitable society is one in which all can participate and prosper. The goals of equity must be to create conditions that allow all to reach their full potential. In short, equity creates a path from hope to change. Equity is designed to address the inequalities of race, class and gender. Equity is manifested in living wage jobs, viable housing choices, affordable public transportation, good schools, strong social networks, safe and walkable streets, adequate public services, safe and well maintained parks, access to healthy food and other fundamental needs that affect the quality of life. Achieving equity requires developing cross sector strategies through authentic participation led by those most impacted.
Guiding Principles
PREVENT DISPLACEMENT AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES
•Prevent/minimize displacement of existing residents and businesses and people of color due to rising property values, new amenities, lack of jobs or other factors
•Foster policies and practices that provide incentives for long term residency
INCREASE LOCAL POWER AND OWNERSHIP
•Organize people and money to gain power, influence decision-makers and change power structures by building local networks that
have regional, national, and global reach
•Promote creative ways to foster authentic engagement among those whose voices are often not heard, including linguistic minorities, immigrant groups, women, and youth
BUILD WEALTH/REDUCE INEQUALITY
•Reduce poverty and build local, regional, and national control and wealth for current residents
•Demand decent transit service, public amenities and services
•Demand a fair share of social and economic opportunities
•Challenge policies and practices that result in inequalities in our communities
BUILD SOCIAL TIES AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE
•Create vibrant public spaces where people come together and overcome divisions
•Build social cohesion through social and civic participation, recognizing the leadership of people of color
•Ensure that ALL residents-- irrespective of income level, race and gender --have the ability to access different amenities, services, and opportunities to meet their full potential.
•Enjoy the pleasures of life and have a good time!
•Prevent/minimize displacement of existing residents and businesses and people of color due to rising property values, new amenities, lack of jobs or other factors
•Foster policies and practices that provide incentives for long term residency
INCREASE LOCAL POWER AND OWNERSHIP
•Organize people and money to gain power, influence decision-makers and change power structures by building local networks that
have regional, national, and global reach
•Promote creative ways to foster authentic engagement among those whose voices are often not heard, including linguistic minorities, immigrant groups, women, and youth
BUILD WEALTH/REDUCE INEQUALITY
•Reduce poverty and build local, regional, and national control and wealth for current residents
•Demand decent transit service, public amenities and services
•Demand a fair share of social and economic opportunities
•Challenge policies and practices that result in inequalities in our communities
BUILD SOCIAL TIES AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE
•Create vibrant public spaces where people come together and overcome divisions
•Build social cohesion through social and civic participation, recognizing the leadership of people of color
•Ensure that ALL residents-- irrespective of income level, race and gender --have the ability to access different amenities, services, and opportunities to meet their full potential.
•Enjoy the pleasures of life and have a good time!
Activities
Ensure Community Benefit of Public Investment
All public investment or regulatory relief should provide measurable community benefit, including connections to productive employment opportunities, access to public amenities, and an increase in local affordable housing.
Maintain Affordability
At least one-third of all housing developed or redeveloped should be protected to ensure that it remains permanently affordable to the entry level salary of a child care provider from that community.
Encourage Local Economic Development
Create policies that encourage local economic development, effective private partnerships with the nonprofit and public sectors, enhance community-serving establishments, and discourage displacement of existing residents and small businesses.
Plan for Transit Growth
Communities embarking on significant development projects must have fully integrated transit options built into their planning, including improved accessibility for riders with disabilities. Prioritize transit oriented development that increases ridership both for urban and suburban communities that rely heavily on existing public transit and those that have a clear need for greater transit access.
Encourage Community-Controlled Housing
Priority for state funding should be given to jurisdictions that are working to guarantee that at least 25 percent of housing units within one mile of a transit oriented development will be held in community control as a permanently affordable community asset.
Improve Environmental Quality
Design projects that maximize environmental benefit, reduce automobile trips, measurably improve air quality, and reduce the incidence of health issues related to atmospheric pollution. Adhere to quality, healthy home and green building standards established by Action members.
Good Jobs Principles for Regional Equity
Assure that good jobs are created in the operations, use, management, and maintenance and construction of any development subsidized or supported through public funding or investment including, but not limited to, public pension funds, etc., by limiting any undercutting of standards for good quality jobs, commitments to uphold any local or regional agreements, contracts, standards, ordinances, or in the absence of such, meeting wage and benefit levels sufficient to support a family without additional public subsidy. Assure just and fair access to good jobs and push back against the occupational segregation grounded in history.
Principles for Promotion of High Health Status for all Residents
Assure access to and promote the development and maintenance of health and health related facilities in high and low opportunity areas; and improve access to facilities and services providing comprehensive quality health care. Assure and improve access to facilities, transport and distribution mechanisms providing affordable healthy foods. Encourage development that minimizes or eliminates the generation of environmental hazards in low and high opportunity areas. Improve consumer access to planning mechanisms at all levels that support the improvement of health status and eliminates or lessens health disparities.
All public investment or regulatory relief should provide measurable community benefit, including connections to productive employment opportunities, access to public amenities, and an increase in local affordable housing.
Maintain Affordability
At least one-third of all housing developed or redeveloped should be protected to ensure that it remains permanently affordable to the entry level salary of a child care provider from that community.
Encourage Local Economic Development
Create policies that encourage local economic development, effective private partnerships with the nonprofit and public sectors, enhance community-serving establishments, and discourage displacement of existing residents and small businesses.
Plan for Transit Growth
Communities embarking on significant development projects must have fully integrated transit options built into their planning, including improved accessibility for riders with disabilities. Prioritize transit oriented development that increases ridership both for urban and suburban communities that rely heavily on existing public transit and those that have a clear need for greater transit access.
Encourage Community-Controlled Housing
Priority for state funding should be given to jurisdictions that are working to guarantee that at least 25 percent of housing units within one mile of a transit oriented development will be held in community control as a permanently affordable community asset.
Improve Environmental Quality
Design projects that maximize environmental benefit, reduce automobile trips, measurably improve air quality, and reduce the incidence of health issues related to atmospheric pollution. Adhere to quality, healthy home and green building standards established by Action members.
Good Jobs Principles for Regional Equity
Assure that good jobs are created in the operations, use, management, and maintenance and construction of any development subsidized or supported through public funding or investment including, but not limited to, public pension funds, etc., by limiting any undercutting of standards for good quality jobs, commitments to uphold any local or regional agreements, contracts, standards, ordinances, or in the absence of such, meeting wage and benefit levels sufficient to support a family without additional public subsidy. Assure just and fair access to good jobs and push back against the occupational segregation grounded in history.
Principles for Promotion of High Health Status for all Residents
Assure access to and promote the development and maintenance of health and health related facilities in high and low opportunity areas; and improve access to facilities and services providing comprehensive quality health care. Assure and improve access to facilities, transport and distribution mechanisms providing affordable healthy foods. Encourage development that minimizes or eliminates the generation of environmental hazards in low and high opportunity areas. Improve consumer access to planning mechanisms at all levels that support the improvement of health status and eliminates or lessens health disparities.
