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About ARDI

The LA County Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative

On July 21, 2020 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a motion to establish an Anti-Racism Los Angeles County Policy Agenda to address “generational inequality and systemic anti-Black racism.” This is the Board’s 8th Directed Priority.

Recognizing that racism is “a matter of public health in Los Angeles County,” and that racism against Black people and communities of color has resulted in large disparities in family stability, health and wellbeing, education, employment, economic development, public safety, criminal justice, and housing, the Board directed the County Chief Executive Officer to establish the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, which is now led by Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza as Executive Director of Racial Equity.

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Our Vision

Los Angeles County is a place where all
residents are healthy, experience
justice, and thrive.

Our Mission

To end structural racism and its consequences in Los Angeles County. To
boldly articulate an anti-racist agenda that will guide, govern, and increase
the County’s ongoing commitment to fighting systemic and institutional
racism in all its forms and dimensions by directing, building capacity for,
and sustaining the development of equitable policy, workforce culture, data
analysis, and resource distribution.

Our Initiative Functions

Under the Chief Executive Office (CEO), the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative will
provide the following to Departments and community stakeholders:

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Training and Capacity Building

Data Collection, Analysis, and Reporting

Technical Assistance and Planning

Policy Analysis and Development

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

Equity-Infused Programming and Resourcing

Current Board-Directed
ARDI Areas of Focus

CHILD & FAMILY
WELFARE

EQUITABLE RESOURCE
INVESTMENT

HEALTH

JUSTICE

POLICY

SUSTAINABILITY

TRUTH, RACIAL HEALING, &
TRANSFORMATION

WORKFORCE CULTURE
& CLIMATE

Board of Supervisors Directives to
Advance an Anti-Racism Policy Agenda

DECLARE

Declare that racism is a matter of public health in Los Angeles County and has risen to crisis proportions, especially for African-Americans

PRIORITIZE

Establish an eighth Board-directed priority to address the elimination of racism and bias in the County, develop a strategic plan, and establish an organizational unit within the CEO

PROGRAM

Evaluate existing County polices, practices, operations, and programs through a lens of racial equity

EVALUATE

Assess existing policies, processes, and practices that may prevent African- Americans from advancing within County departmental career ladders

STRATEGIZE

Advance the strategy recommendations put forward by the Ad Hoc Committee for Black People Experiencing Homelessness

REPORT

Commission an annual report on the State of Black Los Angeles County

RESOURCE

Develop a funding plan in consultation with philanthropy and academia

EXECUTE

Identify at least one Management Appraisal and Performance Plan (MAPP) goal each year that strengthens organizational capacity

Countywide Guiding Equity Principles

Reduce racial disparities in life outcomes as well as disparities in public investment to shape those outcomes.
A tree diagram illustrating strategies for addressing racial disparities and promoting community engagement in Los Angeles County.

Learn More

ARDI Celebrates Juneteenth

Celebrating Juneteenth

 Celebrating Juneteenth 1024 576 Los Angeles County

Celebrating Juneteenth Los Angeles County joins communities across the nation in recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth. This day, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, the date when news of liberation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas — two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This substantial delay…

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Pride Month

Celebrating Pride Month

 Celebrating Pride Month 1024 574 Los Angeles County

Celebrating Pride Month June marks Pride Month, a time when Los Angeles County honors the resilience, history, and contributions of our many broad and diverse LGBTQ+ communities. This month, we reaffirm our dedication to equity, belonging, and the ongoing work of expanding access to opportunity for all. Pride Month traces its roots to the 1969…

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The Work Continues

 The Work Continues 1024 576 Los Angeles County

The Work Continues A Message from Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza Over the last five years, it has been one of the greatest honors of my career to help lead the Chief Executive Office’s (CEO) Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative for Los Angeles County. During that time, ARDI has worked alongside County departments, community organizations, advocates,…

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Sign Up for the ARDI Newsletter

Please complete the form below to stay updated on the latest developments,
initiatives, and events promoting anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion within LA County.

    

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