Historic Commitment

Equity and justice for all, now and for the generations to come.

Washington State Commitments

Washington understands that equity, diversity, and belonging are critical public service imperatives that inspire its 60,000+ talented, actively engaged public servants to provide a superior customer experience in a way that equitably serves all Washingtonians.

Accordingly, the state is deeply committed to protecting the civil and human rights of its public service workforce, as well as the civil and human rights of the millions of Washingtonians who visit state agencies seeking help to  live, work, play, eat, learn, drive and thrive.

A variety of Commissions, Business Resource Groups, and affinity groups are deeply committed to fostering a public service culture where equity, belonging, and equal employment opportunity is a reality for all state employees and the people they serve.

The newly created Washington State Office of Equity (the Office) partners with stakeholders, both within and outside of state government, to advance equity and justice for all in public service delivery, leading the state toward becoming a truly transformed government enterprise—one that embeds equity and justice into every action, and where doing so is simply the way state government works.

I firmly believe Washington will be an anti-racist state, and I will be taking actions that hold our state to that commitment. …We need our policies and budget to reflect our dedication toward disrupting the harmful systemic cycle of racism and inequity.Governor Jay Inslee

Milestones

2021 February 18, 2021 Inslee names Karen A. Johnson, PhD, director of new state Office of Equity
2020 December
April

A Historic commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion policy brief

RCW 43.06D Office of Equity
HB 1783 (2019-2020) Creating the Washington state office of equity

2019-2020   Washington State Office of Equity Task Force

 

Media

February 19, 2021 Inslee names director of new Washington Office of Equity (King 5)
Gov. Inslee names head of Washington state’s new Office of Equity (Seattle Times)
January 25, 2021 WA Legislature debates cost and value of launching Equity Office: Budget writers may find the money for the new office, but questions remain about where it would get its power and authority (Hannah Krieg/Crosscut)
January 21, 2020 State House passes formation of nation’s first statewide ‘Office of Equity’: Gregerson sponsors bill to reduce systemic disparities (KentReporter)
December 14, 2020

Inslee announces Washington’s historic commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (Medium.com)

Inslee announces Washington's historic commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (Press Release)