Racial Equity Tools

The Research and Action for Change and Equity (RACE) Program supports organizations building power in communities of color, immigrant and refugee groups and communities in addressing vital racial justice issues.

In 2012, the Center partnered with seven community-based organizations to produce Facing Race: 2011 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity for Oregon. This report card examines 23 pieces of legislation introduced in the 2011 legislative session. It evaluates lawmakers’ commitment to advancing opportunities and closing disparities affecting Oregonians, particularly Oregonians of color.

Communities of color are here today and a significant part of Oregon’s future.

In 1990, people of color were 9.2% of the population. Today, people of color comprise 21.5% of the state’s population. Oregon’s demographics are changing and racial equity is critical to Oregon’s future.

However, Oregon’s communities of color have been left behind. The gaps are growing. For example, the poverty rates for African American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders are triple the rate for White Oregonians.

Some lawmakers are taking the leadership on racial equity, but collectively lawmakers are not making the grade. The House of Representatives received a D and the Senate received a C.

Topics covered in the report include civil rights and criminal justice, education, economic justice, health, immigration and refugee issues as well as institutional racism. This evaluation of lawmakers’ commitment to advancing opportunity and closing disparities affecting Oregonians, particularly Oregonians of Color, is the first ever in Oregon.

Race matters in Oregon.

We can end racial disparities and ensure fairness and opportunity for all Oregonians. By prioritizing racial equity and inclusion in all areas of policymaking, all Oregonians—whose lives and fates are linked— can benefit when opportunity is available to everyone. This report can serve as a tool for Oregon’s communities of color and allies to determine whether policymakers are representing the interests of people of color. This report can also serve as a tool to help policymakers consider the racial impact of legislation in the 2012 short session and 2013 regular session. Oregon lawmakers can do a better job, and we can help them.

Legislative Report Cards in other states

We also assisted Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada in publishing Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity in 2011 and 2009.

In our region similar report cards have been published in Washington (2010) and Idaho (2009). Beyond our region similar report cards have been produced in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.