Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative
On July 21, 2020, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors declared racism a public health issue in the community, and they adopted a sweeping action called the Anti-Racism, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative (or ARDI). The purpose was to install an anti-racist agenda to guide, govern and increase the County’s ongoing commitment to fighting racism in all its dimensions.
Soon after the declaration, personnel from the Department of Medical Examiner joined interdepartmental ARDI workgroups. With their participation, they have been attending meetings, anti-racism trainings and learning ways to actively engage in supporting strategic planning for the initiative.
Goals for ARDI include transformational advances in life conditions for Black people and others across the County who have been and continue to be inequitably disadvantaged and disenfranchised; identifying processes for substantive engagement with community, business, academic, philanthropic, and government stakeholders; and creating experiences to cultivate consciously anti-racist cultures and climates throughout the County’s government structure and the communities, organizations, businesses, cities, jurisdictions, and institutions in LA County.
To learn more, visit the official ARDI website here.