Local governments encouraged to expand racial equity policies

 

[June 25, 2020] 

University of Illinois Extension is facilitating discussion on racial equity in local governments during a free, online webinar on July 16. Register early to receive access to the noon webinar.

Racial Equity: From Agency-wide Initiatives to Social Service Delivery Programs will cover how to implement and expand racial equity policies and practices, including racial equity in decision-making, team-building, and leadership development; and cover technical models, such as racial equity impact analysis tools, to improve the impact of policies and services for the communities we serve. By starting from the internal environment of the state and building a learning culture based on racial equity approaches, we seek to strengthen government so it can respond comprehensively and collaboratively to the new American public of the 21st century, says Nancy Ouedraogo, Illinos Extension community and economic development specialist.

Kathleen Yang-Clayton brings extensive legislative, advocacy, organizing, and applied research experience to her clinical professor position in the Department of Public Administration, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She is director of Undergraduate Studies and Civic Partnerships for the Department, ensuring that the growth and expansion of the bachelor’s degree program in public policy engages the top government, nonprofit, and philanthropic leaders in the city and state.

Her experience in social justice and racial equity campaigns includes immigrant and voting rights issues, with a current focus on expanding the use of racial equity policy analysis across a range of sectors and issue areas.

Her cross-movement work on voting rights resulted in the passage of landmark legislation in Illinois that expanded access to under-served communities through Same Day Registration.  She has given presentations and participated on panels related to voting rights, redistricting, and racial equity at numerous conferences and meetings. She is a co-founder of a racial equity leadership development organization, sits on several boards and associations, is the faculty adviser for UIC’s chapter of the Roosevelt Institute and recipient of a civic engagement research award for UIC faculty by the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement at UIC for spring 2018.

Yang-Clayton received her Ph.D. in Sociology from The University of Chicago. She also holds a master's degree in Natural Resource and Agricultural Economics from the University of Arizona and has worked as an agricultural economist for the World Bank in Sub-Saharan Africa. She has served on numerous committees and commissions such as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Institute for Translational Medicine at the University of Chicago and is a 2014 Edgar Fellow.

University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. For reasonable accommodation, please contact Ouedraogo as early as possible.

[SOURCE/WRITER: Nancy Ouedraogo, Specialist, Community and Economic Development, University of Illinois Extension]