Racial & Economic JusticeRacial / Economic Justice is the heart of the MIL’s work, individually and collectively. We bring our lived experiences to the challenge of government design innovation in order to shift the focus of the Department of Community Human Services, Multnomah County and the community at-large from providing services to those in need of help, to bringing justice to BIPOC communities and ending intergenerational poverty.
How might DCHS create racially just economic opportunities for every person, particularly those who have been disadvantaged by the governmental practice of white supremacy, to thrive?
Can the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) be automatically provided to those who are eligible?
How might we directly impact the Black community in ways that address the systemic harm that has been done to perpetuate the wealth gap between white and Black Americans?
How might we address the harms of systemic racism and poverty in a way that allows affected households to retain their agency around meeting their most pressing financial needs?
How might we address racial wealth gaps, asset building and economic stability, while also addressing white supremacy culture in Multnomah County’s current policies?
The MIL's Work falls into three main categories: Organizational Culture & Structure; Future Visioning; and Racial & Economic Justice.