Washington will achieve PEAR ecosystem outcomes by cultivating and measuring state agencies’ impact on 15 Determinants of Equity, the social conditions that everyone in Washington needs to flourish and achieve their full potential:

Washington will achieve PEAR ecosystem outcomes by cultivating and measuring state agencies’ impact on 15 Determinants of Equity, the social conditions that everyone in Washington needs to flourish and achieve their full potential:

“…The PEAR framework prioritizes investments in 15 determinants of equity to achieve outcomes that benefit all tribes, communities, and employees of Washington’s ecosystem, and calls for investing more of our state’s resources “upstream” to address root causes where the needs are greatest to ensure that individuals in underserved communities have their basic needs met long term in Washington’s ecosystem.” –Executive Order 22-04

We’re ecstatic to kick this newsletter off by introducing the different teams within our office and the work they are doing. We are so grateful to all of you who have already subscribed to this newsletter and the support you all have shown our office and our individual teams. The work of this office is pivotal and would not be what or where it is without YOU!

Click here to read our FIRST Office of Equity Newsletter.

“The wrong first question is what do we need to do? The right first question is who do we need to become?” –Benjamin McBride

Washington state will transform from its current state to a Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) ecosystem (future state).

Current state:

Some Washingtonians question the legitimacy of state government because decisions are consistently made without them.

“If my colleagues had the right language, it would make conversations a thousand times easier.” –David Baboolall (they/them)

It is important to have a shared vocabulary in equity and social justice work. Below is a short list of common terms and abbreviations used throughout this document, along with their meanings.

“Everything seems impossible until it’s done.” –Nelson Mandela

The Washington State Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Ecosystem Plan & Playbook outlines the framework and tools that Washington state agencies will use to create a PEAR ecosystem in which all Washingtonians have full access to the opportunities, power, and resources they need to flourish and achieve their full potential.

“Teamwork makes the dream work.” –John Maxwell

Washington’s Pro-Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Ecosystem Plan & Playbook was developed in partnership with a team of expert consultants who also created an online toolkit and data maps for use by state agencies and other stakeholders across the state to collectively measure progress toward broad goals that advance equity and justice in Washington.

PEAR Plan & Playbook Design Team

Karen A. Johnson, Ph.D.
Director, WA State Office of Equity

Why? The legislature established the Office of Equity because:

1. They found that the diversity of Washington’s population has increased over the last several decades.

Change in race and ethnicity of Washington residents from 2010 to 2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2010 and 2020 5-year Estimates Detailed Tables, last accessed 12/22/2022.