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Agenda - 09-02-2010 - 7b
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 2, 2010 Action Agenda Item No. ~ - ~j SUBJECT: Social Justice Goal DEPARTMENT: Housing/Community Dev. PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): (Under Separate Cover) Social Justice Goal Draft Implementation Plan INFORMATION CONTACT: Tara L. Fikes, 245-2490 Bryant Colson, Chair, Human Relations Commission PURPOSE: To consider adoption of the Social Justice Goal for Orange County developed by the Human Relations Commission. BACKGROUND: In February 2004, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) asked the Orange County Human Relations Commission through the Human Rights and Relations Office to develop a social justice goal for Orange County. Since that time, much work has been done to develop the current draft goal as chronicled by the following timeline. Feb. 2004, 2005; 2006 Feedback was solicited from diverse segments of the ~ County population including County human services departments, the Orange County Human Services Management Team (internal), the Human Relations Commission (HRC) and the Human Rights and Relations (HRR) Department. More feedback was provided by individual residents as well. Research was also undertaken to inform the development of these goals. October 2007 A draft written Social Justice Goal was presented to the BOCC at a regular meeting. February 2008 The goal was further discussed on February 12, 2008 at a joint work session with the Human Relations Commission (HRC) and the '' ~~ BOCC. After the work session the -HRC edited the draft goal based on those discussions. April 2008 At the request of the BOCC, the HRC presented the environmental justice criteria from the Social Justice Goal at a Solid Waste Transfer work session on April 15, 2008 and the BOCC instructed the consultants to incorporate those criteria into all future drafts of the Community-Specific Criteria for the site search. November 2008 The revised version of the draft was presented at the November 6, 2008 BOCC Meeting. Board member comments were received and plans were made to consider this further at the next BOCC Retreat in-2009. January 2009 Item was not considered at the 2009 BOCC Retreat due to time constraints. May 2010 Draft goal was reviewed by the BOCC at a regularly scheduled work session. During that session it was suggested that the HRC develop a methodology to measure the success of goal implementation. Since the May work session the Human Relations Commission (HRC) and County staff have developed a Social Justice Goal Implementation Plan that has two components: I. Annual Review of the Social Justice Goal Recommendations; and II. Social Justice Impact Review Tool. The Annual Review will be conducted by the HRC and the Social Justice impact Review Tool would be utilized by County departments as new or revised County programs, policies, and/or projects are proposed by County departments. The Impact Review Tool has been shared with department directors for their review and comment. FINANCIAL IMPACT: It is difficult to quantify all future costs associated with implementing the Social Justice Goal; however, there is some recognition that there will be some costs associated with implementation including staff resources, particularly considering the need to complete the Social Justice Impact Review Tool. RECOMMENl3"ATON(S): The Manager recomm, ends that."the Board adopt the draft Social Justice Goal for Orange County developed by the Human Relations Commission (HRC) and acknowledge those current and former members of the HRC who were instrumental in developing the goal. INTRODUCTION Social Justice is an issue that has been addressed primarily by nongovernmental grassroots organizations. Orange County is one of the first local governments to consider a social justice initiative. This Social Justice Goal is intended to provide a framework for the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and other County government employees, as well as local residents and other stakeholders to ensure that social justice is paramount in decision- and policy-making. Delivering on the Goal will require collaborative efforts at all levels of government; careful allocation of tax dollars; and a personal and collective commitment to the ideology of equal access and equal treatment. WHAT IS SOCIAL. JUSTICE? The Human Relations Commission has defined social justice in Orange County as a community that actively seeks to eliminate oppression' and create equal opportunity; where individuals may sufficiently provide for their physical and mental needs and the needs of their dependents; where individuals live in physically and mentally safe communities; where the environment and economy are sustainable and where all are able to participate civically. WHAT DO ORANGE COUNTY RESIDENTS WANT? The idea for an Orange County Social Justice Goal was formulated by the BoCC in 2004. The BoCC asked the Human Relations Commission (HRC) to develop a plan for ensuring social justice for all people in Orange County. From September 14, 2005 to June 17, 2006, the HRC solicited input regarding social justice in Orange County from the general public and county advisory boards and commissions.Z The HRC conducted public "listening" sessions with the general community and directly contacted Orange County residents, volunteers, and employees for their comments.3 The project also was influenced by current trends in international human rights law and policy.4 Approximately 550 stakeholders gave input on the issue of social justice in Orange County. The categories of social justice are listed below in descending order of importance based on this community feedback. ' Oppression is the systemic and pervasive intentional or unintentional mistreatment of individuals in a disadvantaged group. Institutional imbalances in power contribute to this mistreatment. Oppression involves the systemic use of power to marginalize, exploit, silence, discriminate against, invalidate, deny, dismiss and/or not recognize the complete humanness of those who are members of the disadvantaged group. Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination support oppression and keep it going. Oppressive systems and ideologies are maintained through discrimination. • Stereotypes are generalizations about groups of people that do not take into account within group differences. • Prejudice is a preference or bias toward or against a group of people based. on incomplete or inaccurate information. • Discrimination is active; it is preferential or biased treatment based on stereotypes, prejudice, and /or historical practices. It results in unequal access and/or representation. 2 For a complete history of the Social Justice Goal process, please see Appendix A. s For a complete explanation of the data collected for this report, please see Appendix B. a The Government of the United States is a party to two international human rights treaties: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR) and the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). A key concept in both conventions is the principle that every person is entitled to respect without distinctions of any kind such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Adoption of the Orange County Social Justice Goal is an expression of local-level implementation of these treaties that have already been endorsed by the Federal government. O/U1NGE COUNTYDRAFT SOCIAL JUSTICE COAL Elimination of O ression 26.2 Percent Economic Self-Sufficienc 20.4 Percent Ph sicall and Mentall Safe Communities 16.9 Percent Environmental Justice 13.3 Percent Civic Partici ation 13.1 Percent Others 10.1 Percent The HRC took this extensive community feedback on Orange County's social justice priorities and synthesized it in to the following goals and recommended actions. ORANGE COUNTY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Orange County is, without doubt, one of the most progressive Counties in the State of North Carolina, and offers more social justice programs than most other communities. However, the County and its residents are heavily impacted by state and national policies that have been predominantly regressive and have placed primary responsibility for social justice on local government's doorstep. While the County continues to grow and the demand for services continues to expand, County funds have not been increasing at the same rate. Each year government administrators and elected officials are forced to make difficult decisions regarding funding for programs, all of which are important to the health of our local community. s The OTHER category included issues such as reproductive justice and animal rights. -. Orz.alvcE Corm~rt DRAFT Socr.4c JUSTICE GOAD SOCIAL JUSTICE VISION In working to achieve social justice, Orange County shall perform government duties including policy-making and budgeting with the express objectives of: • Striving for the elimination of oppression and inequity by creating an environment of equal opportunity in which no groups are targeted for harassment, exclusion, intimidation or violence. • Ensuring economic self-sufficiency by fostering a sustainable community in which individuals can sufficiently provide for the physical, social, and mental needs of themselves and their dependents, and by providing safety net mechanisms for those who find themselves unable to do so. • Creating a safe community by supporting policies, procedures, regulations, and programs that reduce harassment, exclusion, intimidation, and violence against Orange County residents. • Establishing sustainable and equitable land-use and environmental policies by creating land-use policies that are fair, reasonable and in line with a sustainable economy. To provide a just framework for governing, the Human Relations Commission suggests the Board of County Commissioners consider these questions when making all decisions: 1. What are the social justice implications of this decision? 2. If this decision has social justice implications, have all Orange County residents been given adequate notice of the issue, relevant information, and opportunities to give meaningful input before the final decision is made? 3. Does a proposed solution have a potentially cumulative social impact on a specific community or neighborhood? 4. If a proposed solution may be socially unjust, is there an alternative resolution that would have a less disparate impact while still accomplishing our core purpose? 7 ---------- ORANCE COUNTY DRAFT S~CI,4L / USTLCE GOAL SOCIAL JUSTICE GOALS GOAL: Foster a Community Culture that Rejects Oppression and Inequity The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. GOAL: Ensure Economic Self-Sufficiency The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their dependents. GOAL: Create a Safe Community The reduction of risks from vehicle/traffic accidents, childhood and senior injuries, gang activity, substance abuse and domestic violence. GOAL: Establish Sustainable and Equitable Land-Use and Environmental Policies The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or policies. GOAL: Enable Full Civic Participation Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS Recommended Actions for Overcoming Oppression and Inequity: • Expand Orange County's Civil Rights Ordinance to include protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. • Recommend that the County's municipalities and school boards adopt this Social Justice Goal. Recommended Actions for Ensuring Economic Self-Sufficiency: • Develop a countywide economic responsibility policy to outline the allocation of County funding to balance the needs of affordable housing, economic development, county infrastructure and a sustainable environment to improve employment opportunities. • Commission a study to explore establishing a job opportunities program for the economically disadvantaged and a temporary employment agency to provide benefits for trainees and new workers while they gain permanent status and benefits. • Amend the County's economic development plan to include a strategy to attract businesses that provide a living wage and health insurance; and to diversify tax revenues by recruiting and nurturing new businesses. • Conduct a pay equity study to determine if Orange County government provides equal pay for equal work considering education, experience and job responsibility, aswell asrace and gender; and ensure that all employees are paid the local housing wage. • Implement a Countywide policy requiring developers of new housing to make a contribution to a housing trust fund or to set aside a portion of the development for affordable housing units. Recommend that funds be used to create housing to meet pent-up demand for public (below 50 of Area Median Income (AMI)), affordable (50 percent of AMI), work-force affordable (80 to 120 percent of AMI) housing and family housing at all levels; and to accept only units that address these needs. _-___ _- ~RANGE CocrwTYDRAFT SOCIAL JusrlcE Goal Recommended Actions for Creating a Safe Community: • Support community resources and agencies designed to provide appropriate services based on community need and best practices. • Create acommission/task force to study the best practices for addressing domestic violence issues, such as establishing an Orange County shelter for battered women. • Create acommission/task force to study the best practices for delivering mental health services. • Commission a study by county service agencies to examine whether service delivery venues and methods reflect different cultural contexts present in the county. Recommended Actions for Establishing Sustainable And Equitable Land-Use And Environmental Policies: • Ask the following questions for all land-use decisions: 1. What are the environmental justice implications of this decision? 2. If this decision has environmental justice implications, have all Orange County residents been given adequate notice of the issue, relevant information, and opportunities to give meaningful input before the final decision is made? 3. Does a proposed solution have a potentially cumulative environmental impact on a specific community or neighborhood? 4. If a proposed solution may be environmentally unjust, is there an alternative resolution that would have a less disparate impact while still accomplishing our core purpose? • Strengthen and expand public transportation from northern to southern Orange County that meets the needs of individuals relying on public transportation without an undue impact on the environment. Recommended Actions for State Legislation The HRC suggests that the BoCC adopt a resolution asking the County's legislative delegation to pursue the following: • Improve hate crimes laws to increase protection to include unprotected individuals (i.e. women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people). • Draft language and seek a legislative sponsor for a statewide employment discrimination law so it may be enforced in Orange County. • Seek legislative authorization to implement a "big box" living wage ordinance. • Advocate that all people have access to affordable healthcare -including mental health services. CONCLUSION Social Justice is an important and universal consideration. Orange County has taken an important first step by developing and implementing a Social Justice Goal. The Human Relations Commission would like to thank the Orange County Board of Commissioners for their support and feedback throughout the process of researching and designing the Social Justice Goal. The HRC hopes that the Goal will make Orange County a place known to value diversity; a place where equal treatment is the rule, not the exception. -__. - ----- RANGE COUNTYDRAFT SOCL4L .IUSTLCE GOAL Appendix A Developing the Social Justice Goal Introduction Until recently, social justice was an issue that was primarily addressed by nongovernmental and/or grassroots organizations, including faith-based groups, political parties and advocacy organizations. According to Jackie Byers, Research Director for the National Association of Counties, only three local governments in the United States have so far considered social justice in their work: Marin, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz Counties, all in California. However, none of these counties have actually established a "Social Justice Goal." Orange County is one of the fast local governmental bodies to consider adopting social justice as a framework for its planning, programs and actions. Timeline During a retreat in 2002 for the Board of County Commissioners' (BOCC), Commissioners members expressed interest in pursuing a social justice goal for Orange County. Together with the Human Services Management Team (HSMT), the County Manager's office began by drawing up a list of programs and potential needs that could be addressed in the document. HSMT's recommendations and discussions on the issue incorporated the Human Services Reform Task Force Final Report, which had been presented to the BOCC in September 1996. In November 2003, the County's human services directors added new items for general discussion, such as wages sufficient for housing, family-friendly practices in the workplace and ways of ensuring fair and equitable distribution of public resources and services across all population groups. During a BOCC meeting in February 2004, the Commissioners requested that the Department of Human Rights and Relations (DHRR) work on a social justice goal through the County's Human Relations Commission (HRC). The BOCC asked the HRC to make recommendations on the document to the BOCC. As a first step, the DHRR began working with Professor John Calmore, Reef C. Ivey Distinguished Professor of Law at UNC' to define a foundation upon which a social justice goal could be built. This basis would provide information on what social justice entails and how it might be implemented by a local government entity. On February 16 and April 18, 2005, Professor Calmore met with members of the HRC and BOCC to help them understand more precisely the concept of social justice. Professor Calmore also met on March 8, 2005, with members of the HSMT to discuss implementation aspects specifically. WHAT IS SOCIAL JUSTICE? According to Professor Calmore, there is no "ultimate" definition for social justice. Each community must define social justice for itself and decide how to prioritize the issues involved. There are, however, four elements common to most descriptions of social justice (see Appendix C): 1. Substantive (actual), not just formal (legal), equality of opportunity. 2. A focus on eradicating the underlying causes of oppression (i.e., racism, sexism, homophobia, economic inequity, etc.) 3. An expansive view of rights, including explicitly those rights not always recognized in courts of law or by local governments 4. A reliance on witnessing, critiquing and speaking out as key components. Professor Calmore's research shows that while social justice advocates seek a more just society generally, they tend to focus particularly on people who are marginalized, disenfranchised, subordinated, excluded and under-represented as community members. To form Orange County's social justice goal, he suggested we ask the following of our community members: 1. What gaps in justice do you see? 2. What basic necessities, if any, are absent for any community groups? 3. What frustrates the hope of progress for various community groups? 4. What circumstances constrain community members from taking advantage of opportunities? 5. What, in the name of social justice, can this local governmental body do to provide redress and close inequality gaps? 1 For more information on internationally acknowledged expert in social justice lawyering and social justice practice John Calmore, please see Appendix C. OR`IA'GG' COUNTYSOCL4L JUSTICE GOAL Appendix B Social Justice Data Collection "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR TAX DOLLARS SPENT TO PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE IN ORANGE COUNTY?" When asked, "What is social justice?", one response is: "SOCIAL JUSTICE is the ideology that all human beings should have the right and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded them by society and the environment." How to Play the. Game, PENN/ES IrvA JAn 1. You have 13 tax dollars ($13). 2. You review the attached list. 3. From the examples under each category, you can either: a) choose specific issues and specify an amount of your $13 to be spent on those specified issues OR b) you can just choose an overall category and specify an amount of your $13 to be spent on that specific category. EXAMPLES BELOW: A. TO SPECIFY A SPECIFIC ISSUE IN A CATEGORY, DRAW A LINE OPPOSITE THE SPECIFIC ISSUE AND SPECIFY THE AMOUNT YOU WISH TO SPEND CIVIC PARTICIPATION / fair and equitable representation of all residents You've designated $4 of your $13 to / equal access to the voting process -~ $4 be spent on the issue "equal access / create a process that allows residents to petition to the voting process" and/or vote to have their property included/excluded as art of a ci or town B. TO SPECIFY SUPPORT OF THE OVERALL CATEGORY, DRAW A LINE OPPOSTTE THE CATEGORY AND SPECIFY THE AMOUNT YOU WISH TO SPEND CIVIC PARTICIPATION ~ $6 / fair and equitable representation of all residents You've designated $6 of your $13 to / equal access to the voting process be spent on the category "CIVIC / create a process that allows residents to petition PARTICIPATION' and/or vote to have their property included/excluded as art of a ci or town 4. If there is an issue not included on the attached list, please feel free to write that issue and the amount of tax dollars to be spent to support that issue on the back of the attached sheet. 5. Thank you!! You have completed the interactive game! DR.4NGE COUNTI'S©GTAL JUSTICE GOAL 10 QUESTIONS: Ask the HRC Member who gave you this document ~ contact the Department of Human Rights & Relations @ 960-38'~S. SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE EXAMPLES ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION / wage fairness/equality (regardless of gender, race, / free, 24-hour public transportation physical disability, religion, sexual orientation, / affordable housing nationality, etc.) / comprehensive job training / eliminate physical bamers to public buildings to / eliminate barriers to adoption due to sexual increase access by physically challenged residents orientation of potential parents / ensure equal access to education, healthcare, / mamage equality for all employment opportunities, contracting (regardless / eliminate profiling on the basis of age, ethnicity, of gender, race, physical disability, religion, sexual race orientation, nationality, religion, etc.) / countywide internship/apprenticeship programs / condemn any laws/policies that promote / condemn any laws/policies that infringe and/or discriminato ractices lessen residents' civil ri hts/liberties CIVIC PART ICIPATION / fair and equitable representation of all residents / maintain paper trail of votes cast / equal access to the voting process / time and place for residents, particularly / create a process that allows residents to petition communities of color, disabled, lower income, and/or vote to have their property included/excluded etc., to discuss concerns with elected officials as art of a ci or town ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE / promote the use of organic and local agriculture / promote recycling programs / promote building practices that limit negative / promote solid waste and toxic waste impact on natural resources, are energy efficient and management programs balance needs of people with protecting the / promote air and water quality programs environment / place new development in targeted areas / reserve & conserve o ens ace/ arks ace / rotect wildlife reserves PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES / community police/neighborhood watch programs / eliminate gang activity / strengthen and enforce hate crime laws / promote drug/rehabilitation programs / eliminate the practice of locating potentially / include/increase violence prevention programs in harmful industries, landfills, etc. in or in close the curriculum at school proximity to minority communities / create safe havens (shelters) for individuals in / strengthen minimal housing standards like requiring abusive (sexuaUphysical) relationships indoor lumbin and air conditionin SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE EXAMPLES ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY / equal access to education, healthcare, employment / comprehensive job training opportunities, (regardless of gender, race, physical / free public transportation disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, / childcare, healthcare, and utility subsidies religion, etc.) / ensure adequate wages to afford shelter, food, / provide affordable healthcare and preventative healthcare healthcare programs / affordable housing / laws protecting immigrant residents from labor / wage equality/fairness ex loitation / overnment economic safe net OTHER / / QR.4]VCiE COUNTY SOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL Appendix B LISTENiNCS ----------------------------------------------------NORTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER LISTENING ------------------------------------------------------~- March 08, 2006 0 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATTON ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELhMINATION OF OPPRESSION OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE CO~IMUNTTIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE SOtvtfl COMMENTS: Broadly favorable comments regarding the "user friendly" tool. Favorable comments regarding the fact that the issue of social justice is being considered. [The custodial staff made these comments, but chose not to participate in the process.] ORANGE COUNTY MAIN COURTHOUSE LISTENING March 22, 2006 1 Resident Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $1 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $4: Renovate the old Wal-Mart for youth & adult usage $5: Renovate em dwellin units for Katrina survivors $2 $1 ORANGE CoUNrrSoc[AC Jusrrce GOAL ,4~pendia B SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER LISTENING ~ 2 April O5, 2006 0 Residents Participated EVENTS/GROUP SOLICITATIONS ;VENT/GROUP DATE #ofPartici ants 1. Human Services Adviso Commission Forum Se tember 14, 2005 42 2. The Efland Gos el Festival Se tember 24, 2005 13 3. Oran a Coun Halloween Hoo la October 28, 2005 32 4. Estes Park Health Fair November O5, 2005 1 g 5. Hillsborou h United Church of Christ November 12, 2005 40 6. Senior Residents' Thanks ivin Luncheon The Bi Barn November 17, 2005 Sg 7. Food Distribution: Northern Human Services Center November 18, 2005 36 8. Universi Mall in Cha el Hill November 19, 2005 43 9. Food Distribution: Gomains Street in Cha el Hill November 28, 2005 g 10. Carrboro United Methodist Church December 02, 2005 13 11. Food Distribution: Pritchard Avenue in Cha el Hill December 14, 2005 11 12. Human Relations Commission Meetin Janua 09, 2006 21 13. Senior Center in Cha el Hill Janua 19, 2006 4 14. Oran e Coun Libra illsborou h Branch Janua 24, 2006 39 15. Oran a Coun Libra Cedar Grove Branch Janu 26, 2006 6 16. Human Relations Month Kick-Off Event Febru O5, 2006 54 17. Listenin :Northern Human Services Center March 08, 2006 0 18. Listenin :Oran a Coun Courthouse March 22, 2006 1 19. Listenin : Southern Human Services Center Aril O5, 2006 0 20. Oran a Coun Housin Fair Universi Mall A ri122, 2006 28 21. Ho Da Celebration June 17, 2006 84 22. Board of Health Meetin Au ust 25, 2006 13 23. Ain Adviso Board 6 24. Economic Develo ment Commission 7 OR~NCE CoawrrSoC~AC JUSTICE Goat Appendix B ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY COMMISSION FORUM September 14, 2005 @ United Church of Chapel Hill 42 Residents Participated 13 CIVIC PARTLCiPATION ECONOMIC SELF S[TI'FICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $60.00 $179.00 $129.00 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MEN'CALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMDZIINTTIES Access to Health Care $4 $104.00 $55.00 Reproductive Justice $5 / Contraceptive equity / Public funding for family planning SVC for low income women & famil Education $2 Trans ortation $2 Universal Health Care $1 Universal Free Daycare & Preschool $1 Fee after-school programs & Enrichment $1 Unantici ated issues $2 Oversi t of a115 cate ories $1 TOT4L $~9 ~~ When questioned about what is social justice, the response was: "Social justice is the ideology that all human beings should have the right and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded them by society and the environment." OR,4NGE C'OUNTYSOCIAL JCTSTICE G0.9L EFLAND GOSPEL FESTIVAL September 24, 2005 13 Residents Participated 14 CrvIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $14.00 $42.00 $32.00 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIFS No Indication $55.00 $22.00 $4 7~OTAL $4 COMMENTS: / One resident cited illegal drug activity and wild dogs on Faucette Mill Road as an issue. / Broadly favorable comments regarding the interactive "Pennies" tool. / Broadly favorable comments regarding the fact that social justice is being considered. ~XANGE CouNrvSocc~, .lusrrcE Go.4c ORANGE COUNTY HALLOWEEN HOOPLA 15 October 28, 2005 @ Northern Human Services Center 32 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY' ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $126.00 $69.00 $87.00 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MEPITALLY SAFE ENVIRONDIENTAL JUSTICI': COMb1UNIT'IES Fair & Equitable Water Bills $79.00 $35.00 $11 Transportation $4 Unanticipated issues $6 (to limit tax increases) ~~ T'OTAL $Z 1 ~~ When questioned about what is social justice, the response was: "Social justice is the ideology that all human beings should have the right and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources afforded them by society and the environment." -- - - - -_ -- ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL ESTES PARK HEALTH FAIR November O5, 2005 18 Residents Participated 16 CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $23.00 $120.00 $28.00 / Create time & place for / Government economic safety net / Wage fairness residents to talk to elected $2 $1 officials $1 / Free 24/7 public transportation $2 / Eliminate profiling / Create a process so residents / General $1 can petition/vote to have their $115 / Eliminate discrimination property taxes reduced $2 $1 / Equal access to education / Equal access to voting$1 $2 / Fair representation for all / Condemn laws that promote residents $1 discrimination / General $2 $19 / Free public transportation $2 / Affordable housing $2 / Comprehensive Job Training $2 / General $14 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNTTIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $3.00 $36.00 $26.00 / Cable broadcasting / Eliminate practice of harmful industries in / Supporting organic 1 landfills $1 $1 / Mental Health / Community police / Prevent development $1 $2 $1 / preserve open space / VIC $1 $3 / Strengthen & enforce hate crimes laws $1 / Air & water quality programs / Promote drug rehabilitation programs $1 $3 / End gang activity / Recycling $2 $4 / Safe communities / General $4 $14 / General $25 ----- - - - ORANGE COUNTYSOCIAL JUSTICE GOlIL HILLSBOROUGH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST ~ 7 November 12, 2005 40 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $67.00 $110.00 $154.00 / Develop ways to increase public / Affordable Housing / More attention paid to support and input. $26 disabled students with $11 / Equal access to education and employment learning disabilities in the opportunities school system $38 $13 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $5.00 $90.00 $94.00 / Mental Health / Eliminate gang activity / Protect wildlife $3 $19 $13 / Countywide internship & / Increase money for mental illness / Preserve open space apprentice-ship programs $13 $16 $2 / Create safe havens / Air & water quality programs $3 $23 / Strengthen & enforce hate crimes laws $25 COMMENTS: 1. I think the County is over-reaching and should adopt less ambitious goals that can be achieved and funded. 2. Well, this is a good way to spend money. 3. This is hard. 4. All of them need some attention don't they? 5. It's hard to calculate since every bill is meaningful. I'm finding it hard to do. 6. I'm glad that they (BOCC) are asking for input from the people. ORANGE COUNTYSOCIA7..IUSTICE G04L SENIOR CTTIZENS' THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON: BIG BARN 18 November 17, 2005 58 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SI?FN7CIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $108.00 $93.00 $333.00 / Free public transportation / Wage fairness $10 $31 / Funding for disability / Condemn laws that promote $23 discrimination / Affordable housing $112 $39 / Affordable healthcare $13 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES EN VIRONMENTAi, JUSTICE $8.00 $112.00 $100.00 / Job opportunities without / Create safe havens / Protect open space & parks discrimination and experience $14 $11 / Eliminate gang activity / Promote air & water programs $21 / Community Police programs $15 $33 / Promote solid waste & toxic waste programs $12 / Protect wildlife $9 OR4NGE COUNTYSOCIAL .TDSTICE GOAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION: NORTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER 19 November 18, 2005 36 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELR SLrFF[CIENCY ELITIINATION OF OPPRESSION $78.00 $110.00 $192.00 / Fair and equitable / Free public transportation / Wage fairness representation of all residents $11 $41 $23 / Affordable housing / Condemn laws that promote $39 discrimination / Affordable healthcare $17 $115 / Comprehensive job training / Eliminate physical barriers in $25 buildings $23 OTHER PHYSICALLa' & MENTALLY SAFE COMbILINPtIF.S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $00 $67.00 $21.00 / Promote drug rehab programs $15 / Protect open space & parks / Eliminate gang activity $9 $18 / Promote solid waste & toxic / Community Police programs $21 waste programs $2 - - _ _ - __. OR.4NCE COCINTYSOCIAL JUSTICE GO4G UNIVERSITY MALL November 19, 2005 43 Residents Participated 20 CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUF'FICII+;NCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $57.00 $130.00 $136.00 OTHER PHYSICALLY 8t MENTALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMI)NI"ItI:S $26.00 $117.00 $93.00 / Equitable access to education $26 OR.9NCE COUNTYSOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL FOOD DISTRIBUTION: GOMAINS STREET November 28, 2005 21 8 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC Sk;LF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $20.00 $20.00 ~an_on Eliminate profiling on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, etc. $12 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE CODiMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $00 $16.00 $8.00 ORANGE COC/NTY SOCIAL /L/STILE CO,fI L CARRBORO UNTTED METHODIST CHURCH 22 December 02, 2005 13 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SL~~FICIENCX ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $00 $20.00 $59.00 OTHER PHYSICALLY c~ MENTALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES $13.00 $41.00 $36.00 / Animal Protection Rights / Police & Fire Protection / Protect wildlife reserve land $9 $39 $10 ORANGE CO(INTYSOCLAL JUSTICE G0.4L FOOD DISTRIBUTION: PRITCHARD AVENUE 23 December 14, 2005 11 Residents Participated CIVIC' PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCF ELIMINATION OE OPPRESSION $14.00 $22.00 $53.00 OTHER PHVSICALI,Y & 111ENTALI,V SAFE COMl1IIiNITIES ENVIl2pNMENTAL JUSTICE $1.00 $47.00 $6.00 COMMENTS: / "Police need to be trained how to deal with Black folk." / Need better paying jobs. / Town meetings don't welcome Black folk. / Race relations are bad, need some type training to deal with different people. / Need cheaper housing. ORANGE CornvTYSoci~ JUSTICE Goan HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING 24 January 09, 2006 2I Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION: $25 $39 $49 OTHER PIIYSICALLY" & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $34 $2'7 Specific Issues & Amounts / $1 Countywide internship/apprenticeship programs / $1 Fair and equitable representation of all residents / $3 Time and place for residents -particularly communities of color, disabled, lower income -to discuss concerns with elected officials / $2 Preserve and conserve open space and park space / $3 Promote recycling programs / $3 Promote solid waste and toxic waste management programs / $3 Promote air quality and water quality programs / $16 Place new development in targeted areas / $3 Include/increase violence prevention programs in the school curriculum / $5 Create safe havens (shelters) for individuals in abusive (sexuaUphysical) relationships / $8 Strengthen minimal housing standards like requiring indoor plumbing and air conditioning / $8 Promote drug/rehabilitation programs / $12 Eliminate gang activity / $22 Strengthen and enforce hate crime laws / $2 Free public transportation / $3 Affordable housing / $4 Equal access to education, healthcare, employment opportunities (regardless of gender, race, physical disability, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, etc.) / $3 Include/increase world foundation programs that promote creationist viewpoints and give historically and scientifically accurate evidence discovered in the past 20 years that clearly refutes evolutionist theory in the school curriculum One resident wrote (paraphrased): I support the practices listed under Elimination of Oppression but would not want my tax dollars spent in these two areas: the elimination of bamers to adoption due to sexual orientation of potential parents and marriage equality for all. I would strongly oppose these two areas. -- - - ORANGE COUNTY SOCI~tL JUSTICE GOAL SENIOR CENTER (CHAPEL HILL January 19, 2006 dResidents Participated 25 CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFTCIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $5 $11 $9 OTHER PHYSICALL]' & MENTALLY SAFE COMMIINITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JOSTICE $13** $12 $2 OTHER: **$13 for Physically & Mentally Safe Communities. "When money is divided too much, no one benefits enough to make a difference. If you can't live safely, nothing else matters much OR aNGE COUNTY SOCIAL JUSTICEGOAL ORANGE COUNTY LIBRARY (HILLSBOROUGH 26 January 24, 2006 39 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $48 $83 $199 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $4 Increase minimum wa es $83 $90 ORANGE COUNTY SOClG4L .TUSTICE GOAL ORANGE COUNTY LIBRARY (CEDAR GROVE) 27 January 26, 2006 b Residents Participated CIVIC P_ARTICLPATION ECONOMIC SELR SUFk'LCIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $10 $11 $12 OTHER PAYSIt:ALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $4 $22 $19 ~: Oxa~vc~ CornvrrSoc~At Jcrsr[ce ("i0.4L H[JMAN RELATIONS MONTH KICK-OFF 28 February 05,2006 54 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTiCIPA'IION ECONOMIC SELF ~LIFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $42 $67 $66 OTHER PHYSICALLV & MEN3'ALLY SAFE COMD4LINTTIES ENViRONMEAi"['AL.IUSTICE ~~ $ $52 $42 cu>:•rr~rr $17 v Eliminate barriers to ado tion due to sexual orientation of otential arents $21 Marria e e uali for all $11 Coun ide internshi /a renticeshi ro ams $31 Condemn an laws/ olicies that infrin a and/or lessen residents' civil ri hts/liberties $51 Maintain a er trail of votes cast $19 Preserve and conserve o ens ace/ arks ace $17 Protect wildlife reserves $51 Eliminate an activi $44 Promote dru rehabilitation ro s $24 Include/increase violence revention ro ams in the curriculum at schools $89 Provide affordable healthcare and reventative healthcare ro rams $57 Promote, ass, and enforce laws rotectin immi rant residents from labor ex loitation $1 Su ort the Dream Act allowin aduates of NC hi h schools to attend state schools at in-state rates. ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL NORTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER 29 March 08, 2006 0 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION OTHER PHI'SICALLY & MENTALLYSAFE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES COMMENTS*: / Broadly favorable comments regarding the "user friendly" Pennies tool. / Broadly favorable comments regarding the fact that the issue of social justice is being considered. * The custodial staff made these comments, but chose not to participate in the process. ORANGE COUNTY SOCL4L JUSTICE GOAL ORANGE COUNTY COURTHOUSE March 22, 2006 1 Resident Participated 30 CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUl''FICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $1 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE ENVIKONMI;NTAL JUSTICE COAIMCINI'I'IES $4: Renovate the old Wal-Mart for $2 $1 youth & adultusage $5: Renovate empty dwelling units for Katrina survivors -- _. ORANGE COi~IVTYSOGLAL .7l7STTCE GOAL SOUTHERN HUMAN SERVICES CENTER 31 April O5, 2006 0 Residents Participated CTVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SII1' FICIENCY ELIMINATION OR OPPRESSION OTHER PIIYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMIJIYTTIES ORANGE COUNTY SOCIAL JUSTLCE G0.4L HOUSING FAIR @ UNIVERSTI'Y MALL 32 April 22, 2006 28 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $54.00 $80.00 $89.00 / Equal access to voting process / Affordable housing $12 / Affordable housing $2 $11 / Equal access to education $11 / Wage fairness $1 / Eliminate Orange / Equal access to health care $2 / Free public transit $1 County/Chapel Hill vehicle / Free public transit $2 / Non-discriminatory hiring owner's taxes $6 *** / Protect immigrant residents from labor practices $12 exploitation $1 / Non-discriminatory employment practices $18 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMAfUNITIF.S ENVIItONMENTALJUSTICE $13.00 $44.00 $84.00 / Education about civil rights and / Promote drug rehabilitation programs $6 / Preserve & Conserve open responsibilities $7 space $18 / Take money from the rich and / Promote recycling programs give to the poor $6 $31 / Promote water management $21 ***Why? =Planning & infrastructure of county and city make it nearly impossible not to own a vehicle. Vehicle ownership also tied to employment allowing people to contribute to society and pay other taxes. 029NGE COUNTYSOCLAL JUSTICE G0.9L ORANGE COUNTY HOG DAY CELEBRATION 33 June 17, 2006 84 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMI?~TATION OF OPPRESSION $191 $255 $210 $4 Broader access and education $9 Education and public school system $13 Eliminate bamers to adoption for Latino and other immigrant $7 Free Public Transportation due to sexual orientation voters $7 Childcare subsidies $9 Marriage equality for all $3 District representation for the $6 Equal access to affordable health care $4 Affordable housing BOCC $6 Affordable housing $2 24-hr public transportation $3 Paper trail of votes $4 Job Training (reasonably price, not $4 Laws protecting immigrants from labor necessarily free) exploitation $2 Eliminate physical barriers $2 Economic safe net OTHER Plll'SICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COMMUNITIES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $43 $198 $195 $9 Gay & Lesbian inclusion $12 Promote drug rehabilitation $3 Promote recycling programs $7 Tax relief $7 Promote community policing $3 Promote organic & local $5 Emergency preparedness for $5 Eliminate gang activity agriculture all residents regardless of $4 Fund domestic violence shelter/safe $3 Eliminate industry socio-economic status or havens $2 Protect green space ethnicity $1 Violence in the school system $2 Air & water quality programs $1 Fix Otis & Sanford streets $2 Protect wildlife reserves $1 Promotion of Volunteer Based Community Programs $1 Promote walkable communities $1 Promote recreation COMMENTS: "This is a wonderful way to get input from citizens." "This is really difficult. I don't envy the Commissioners when they have to make decisions on how to spend tax dollars." "I'm really not going to put any money in this one." [Resident was refemng to the jar labeled "Elimination of Oppression."] "I hope that our input is used by the Commissioners and not just an exercise in futility." "This interactive exercise makes me appreciate the budget process the Commissioners go through each year." ORANGE COUNTY SOCLAL JUSTICE GOAL BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING August 25, 2006 13 Residents Participated 3a CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIAaNATION OF OPPRE.~SIOIV $11 $61 $34 / $2 Equal access to voting / $24 Access to affordable/preventative $2 Affordable housing / $1 Paper trail of votes healthcare $2 Condemn laws that promote / $6 Affordable housing discrimination / $2 Access to dental care $2 Wage fairness / $2 Access to healthy food $1 Equal and equitable access to / $1 Equal Access to education schools, health and resources $1 Equal access to healthcare $1 E ual access to education OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE CONiMUNI"DIES ENVIRONMENTALJrIST1CE $4 $31 $28 / $3 Laws protecting all / $3 Northern Orange parks, walking trails / $4 Use local and organic immigrants documented or that are safe and secure agriculture undocumented from / $1 Safety on walking trails in and around / $4 Create Asthma friendly exploitation and exclusion Carrboro in the early mornings public housing / $2 Preserve open space / $1 Green building practices / $1 Promote recycling / $1 Improve water quality / $1 Condemn/prevent hazardous companies from locatin in nei hborhoods ORANGE COUNTYSbCIAL .TCISTICE GOAL AGING ADVISORY BOARD 6 Residents Participated 35 CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY EI~IMLNATION OF OYYRESSION $16 $22.00 $14.00 / Provide a time and place for / Provide affordable healthcare and / Wage fairness/equality (regardless residents, particularly preventative healthcare programs $9 of gender, race, physical disability, communities of color, lower / Ensure equal access to education, religion, sexual orientation, income etc., to discuss concerns healthcare, employment opportunities nationality, etc.) $2 with elected officials $5 $3 / Affordable housing $1 / Maintain paper trail of votes / Ensure adequate wages to afford / Eliminate barriers to adoption due to cast $1 shelter, food $2 sexual orientation of potential parents $1 / Condemn any laws/policies that promote discriminatory practices $1 / Marria e E uali for all $1 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY SAFE COM117i7NTTIES ENVIRONI-iENTALJUSTKE $13.00 $13.00 / Strengthen minimal housing standards / Promote recycling programs $2 $3 / Preserve open space/park space $1 / Eliminate the practice of locating potentially harmful industries in or in close proximity to minority neighborhoods $1 / Include/increase violence prevention programs in the curriculum at school $2 / Eliminate gang activity $1 / Create safe havens for individuals in abusive relationshi s $1 OR'WGE COUNTY SOCL~L JUSTICE GOAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CODIMISSION 36 7 Residents Participated CIVIC PARTICIPATION ECONOA-IIC SELF SUFFICIENCY ELIMINATION OF OPPRESSION $9 $28 $30 / Equal access to voting process / Provide affordable healthcare and / Eliminate physical bamers to public $3 preventative healthcaze programs $9 buildings increasing access by / Fair and equitable / Ensure equal access to education, physically challenged residents $10 representation of residents $1 healthcaze, employment opportunities / Wage fairness/equality (regazdless / $8 of gender, race, physical disability, / Provide a time and place for / Ensure adequate wages to afford religion, sexual orientation, residents, particularly shelter, food $2 nationality, etc.) $5 communities of color, lower / Provide affordable healthcare and / Affordable housing $3 income etc., to discuss preventative healthcare programs $2 / Eliminate barriers to adoption due to concerns with elected officials / Comprehensive job training $1 sexual orientation of potential $5 parents $3 / Maintain paper trail of votes / Condemn any laws/policies that cast $1 promote discriminatory practices $5 / Marriage Equality for all $2 OTHER PHYSICALLY & MEA'TALL2' SAFE COMML}NTI'IES I•, 1' \'IRONMI:NTAL JUSTICE $15 $9 / Eliminate the practice of locating / Promote use of local and organic potentially harmful industries in or in agriculture $2 close proximity to minority / Preserve open space/pazk space $2 neighborhoods $3 / Promote green building practices $1 / Eliminate gang activity $2 / Strengthen minimal housing standards $1 OR4NGE CO(/NTYSOCIAL .TUST/CE GOAL 37 Appendix C Social Justice Background John O. Calmore, UNC School of Law February 16, 2005 SOCIAL JUSTICE AS A REFLECTION OF OUR COMMUNITY CHARACTER: THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS In the autumn of 2003, a Durham newspaper reported that Democratic Party presidential candidates John Edwards and Howard Dean each had promised that, if elected, he would hold a summit on social justice within 90 days of taking office. ~ The two men said they would invite groups to discuss how grassroots organizing can play an expanded role in solving society's problems; according to Edwards, "We have to make real, bold, dramatic moves that we can really achieve." Social justice is usually directed by NGOs, from Oxfam America to the Green Party, from academic and training institutions to local grassroots groups. It is not an explicit goal of local governments. Orange County is thus poised to make the real, bold, dramatic, and achievable moves mentioned by Edwards. Of course, here is the challenge and the opportunity. Is it within the capacity and heart of the Board to advance a social justice agenda in terms of real, bold, dramatic, and, most importantly, achievable goals? If the Board shies away from this format, will it underachieve, perhaps doing no more than paying lip service.to social justice? Few local governments take this on because it is very hard to do. Against this backdrop, I have been asked to address three questions: 1) what is social justice in a legal, social, and historic framework? 2) How is social justice manifested? 3) How could it be manifested? As questions 2 and 3 suggest, I am exploring both aerogram/policy of social justice and the aspirations embodied by social justice. I. What is Social Justice? Judith Shklar has suggested that only by understanding the face of injustice can one understand justice. A social justice goal cannot be developed at the home office and then imposed top-down on the people. We should keep this in mind as we proceed. Because there are many views of social justice, it is important for the Board to define the concept for itself, to tailor it in a way that fits with its character and mission. Social justice is a concept largely based on various social contract theories. Most variations on the concept hold that as governments are instituted among populations for the benefit of members of those populations, 4hose governments which fail to see to the welfare of their citizens are failing to uphold their part in the social contract and are, therefore, unjust. The concept usually includes, but is not limited to, upholding human rights; many variants also contain some statements concerning more equitable distributions of wealth, power, and resources. T'he concept of a social contract presents a good framework for striking a bargain with the community. Those concerned with social justice may believe that historical inequities that cause injustice should be corrected until the actual inequities no longer exist. A second belief held by some social justice proponents is that wealth, power and status should be redistributed for the individual, community and societal good. Such advocates may further hold that it is government's (or those who hold significant power) responsibility to ensure a basic quality of life for all citizens. While it is beyond my scope here to address the critique of social justice, the Board should become aware of such criticism, the most prominent stemming from Friedrich Hayek.Z The Social Justice Training Institute defines social justice as both a process and a goal: "The goal of social justice education is full and equal participation of groups in society that is mutually shaped to meet their needs. Social justice includes a vision of society that is equitable and all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure."3 It is important to recognize that the vision of social justice be developed synergistically as both a process and goal. Goals are not self-regulating or self-implementing; attention to process is important to address legitimacy and to measure efficiencies and effectiveness. O2ANGECOUNTYSOCLAL JUSTICE GOAL 38 While social justice seeks a more just society in general, it focuses most directly on a constituency of those who are marginalized, subordinated, excluded, and underrepresented. We must ask: "What is the injustice they experience? What is the justice they seek?" Without asking these questions, it will be hard to respond to their legitimate expectations. According to Indigenous Australia, "Social justice means being entitled to the same rights and services as all other citizens." Ask yourself, perhaps from a privileged position, what is social justice? Indigenous Australia answers: "Social justice is what faces you in the morning. It is awakening in a house with adequate water supply, cooking facilities and sanitation. It is the ability to nourish your children and send them to school where their education not only equips them for employment but also reinforces their knowledge and understanding of their cultural inheritance. It is the prospect of genuine employment and good health: a life of choices and opportunity, free from discrimination."4 As members of the Orange County community wake up, what do they see? What basic necessities, if any, are absent? What frustrates their hope? What opportunity-denying circumstances constrain them? What, in the name of social justice, can this local governmental body do to provide redress and close inequality gaps? I recently co-authored a law book of cases and materials on social justice.5 After an extensive literature review, we concluded that there is no single vision of social justice among the theorists who use this term. Some use the phrase social justice interchangeably with the term justice. Some use the concept as a counterpoint to injustice, to convey idealistic humanitarian goals. Others view social justice as requiring a higher moral ground than self-interest. In Europe, for instance, many nations attempt to harmonize economic efficiency and social justice. And there are some who use the term to describe particular aspects of freedom, such as freedom of speech or freedom from arbitrary searches, seizures, and detention. In virtually all formulations of the concept, social justice is understood to capture something other than justice in general or claims about basic rights. Usually, social justice invokes substantive rather than formal equality. Some theorists define social justice as involving "the goals of equality of access, opportunity, and outcome." The focus on outcome distinguishes it from "equality of opportunity" or "equality under law," normative goals that may frustrate substantive equality. It is common to adopt an approach that "presupposes a conception of social justice that provides a standard for assessing the distributive aspects of the basic structure of society.."6 Thus, most social justice research deals with issues of allocation. Social justice issues often extend beyond issues of economic or distributive justice, however, by also embracing issues of human dignity and solidarity. According to David Smith, the term social justice may be "simultaneously distributional and relational," and it is in this regard that a local government can make a difference: "The term social justice is taken to embrace both fairness and equity in the distribution of a wide range of attributes, which need not be confined to material things. Although the primary focus is on attributes which have an immediate bearing on people's well-being or the quality of their lives, our conception of social justice goes beyond patterns of distribution, general and spatial, to incorporate attributes to how these came about. While fairness is sometimes applied to procedures and justice to outcomes, we are concerned with both. Preference for the term social justice rather than justice in general is explained not by preoccupation with the distribution of attributes which might be labeled as social, but by concern with something which happens socially, among people in a society."~ The moral philosopher Iris Marion Young also extends social justice beyond issues of distribution. For her, "social justice means the elimination of institutionalized domination and oppression."$ Traditional theories of justice tend to restrict the meaning of social justice to "the morally proper distribution of benefits and burdens among society's members." As Smith and Young admonish, the Board must recognize that distributive issues are crucial to a satisfactory conception of justice, but it would be a significant mistake to reduce social justice to distributional inequity. Following Young's lead, the Board's goal of social justice should focus as well, if not primarily, on the social structure and institutional contexts that often help determine distributive relationships, patterns, and outcomes. Intervene there. II. What is the place of rights within a social justice vision? The concept of social justice can be linked back to the nation's Declaration of independence in 1776. The nation's founders voiced the now familiar vision of democracy in which `life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness' are inalienable rights, `consent of the governed' legitimates the power of government, and all citizens are `created equal.' Today, across the land, the achievement of these ideals remains relevant to social justice advocacy. As ~~ OR;IIVGE COONTS'SOC[AL JUSTICE GOAL 39 Thurgood Marshall pointed out on the occasion of the Constitution's bicentennial, the negotiation of these ideals has involved constant struggle. He noted that the government devised in Philadelphia "was defective from the start, requiring several amendments, a civil war, and momentous social transformation to attain the system of constitutional government, and its respect for individual freedoms and human rights, that we hold fundamental today."9 Social movements that were driven by a quest for effective rights have built social justice legal organizations that really took off in the 1960s. As they evolved, they changed the way that lawyers practiced and thought. As Oliver Houck observes, the lawyers had clients and the clients were injured, but also [there] was a larger sense of justice that is as difficult to define precisely as it would be to deny. Most importantly, they did not simply seek compensation for their clients; increasingly they sought to change the law." Thus, the phrase "law reform" described the efforts of lawyers such as those involved in the three large movements focused on ending poverty, promoting civil liberties, and achieving civil rights. Because rights are indeterminate, legal advocacy has continually reshaped the conception of rights to be more effective in advancing social justice. Beyond legal rules, social justice claims have viewed rights as expressions about how people should be treated - as norms and values rather than fiats. According to Martha Minow, under this conception: "'Rights' can give rise to `rights consciousness' so that individuals and groups may imagine and act in light of rights that have not been formally recognized or enforced. Rights, in this sense, are neither limited to nor co-extensive with precisely those rules formally announced and enforced by public authorities. Instead, rights represent articulations -public or private, formal or informal - ofclaims that people use to persuade others (and themselves) about how they should be treated and about what they should be granted....[I] include within the ambit of rights discourse all efforts to claim new rights, to resist and alter official state action that fails to acknowledge such rights, and to construct communities apart from the state to nurture new conceptions of rights. Rights here encompass even those claims that lose, or have lost in the past, if they continue to represent claims that muster people's hopes and articulate their continuing efforts to persuade. "Consciousness, or cognizance, of rights, then, is not simply awareness of those rights that have been granted in the past, but whispered or unheard have become claims, and claims that once were unsuccessful, have persuaded others and transformed social life. The connections between past and future claims of rights are voiced through interpretations of inherited understandings of rights. Interpretation engages lawyers and non-lawyers in composing new meanings inside and outside of legal institutions. Charges against new rights express opposition to this interpretive process.i10 Under this conception of social justice rights and claims, which is consistent with international human rights, rights potentially enhance our collective consciousness, change our cultural and institutional habits, mobilize people beyond the courtroom, organize political groups at the grassroots, and force those in power to account for their actions. Rights join with culture, power, conscience, and human dignity as expressions of social justice. Herein lies the transformative potential of rights claims. III. How is social justice manifested? How could it be manifested? These questions must be addressed in the context of a local government's capacities and overall functions and objectives. Where does social justice fit within the institutional behavior of county commissioners who are accountable to principles of right action and serving the people of the county in concrete ways? It is important to recognize the view of many who see the local govemment's ability to control its community character as the fundamental responsibility of self-government. As Gerald Frug points out, for these people, "local self-governance means the ability of citizens to create for themselves the kind of city [or county] they want to live in." As we think of Orange County, social justice should be part of that determination of community character. It must transcend local boundaries that mark the county's cities and act in a way that advances an inclusive regional notion of the public interest. What, then, is the county's vision of social justice and how can that vision translate into polices and programs that are within the power of local government to realize? This is the orienting question for discussion. - _ __ _ __ - -_ -- - _ _ OR.9]VGE COUNTYSOCL4L JUSTICE GOAL 40 Jacqueline Byers, Director of Research, National Association of Counties, indicated that no counties have explicitly adopted a social justice goal but she indicated that Santa Cruz, Marin and Santa Barbara counties in California have focused on advancing social justice. They probably would provide the best comparison sites to assess current manifestations of social justice at the local governmental level." Santa Cruz is the most instructive case, because it appears to be a leader in social justice goal-oriented activity. It claims, "Santa Cruz County has more programs concerned with Social Justice than many other areas in the US." As a local government, the county observes, "Social justice, including environmental justice, are necessary components of any plan for a healthy, sustainable future. Historically, low-income communities and communities of color suffer disproportionately. Recent coalition building strategies and campaigns are beginning to make a dent is this problem." Its primary focus is on developing a sustainable community through 12 principles of agreement. I refer you to them to reiterate that a social justice agenda must entail both a goal and process. Beyond local governments, a more ambitious social justice vision and program is illustrated by the Green Party platform of social justice and livable communities.12 It addresses 25 topics, including the social safety net that was the County Commissioners' initial focus. I think this is an excellent start for addressing what social justice goals could be. The challenge is to step back from the macro to the micro perspective that is more within the capacity of local government. Still, as aspirations go, the Green Party goals are instructive. IV. Conclusion In closing, let me offer a humble opinion. I have been engaged in social justice work for the last 35 years: as a legal services lawyer in Roxbury and Watts; as a program officer within the rights and social justice program of the Ford Foundation; as social justice professor and scholar; and as a board member of the New World Foundation and Oxfam America. I believe that at the end of the day, the ultimate goal of social justice is to engender hope - "audacious hope" as Barak Obama phrased it. Three years ago, at a celebration of Martin Luther King's birthday, Cornel West came to Chapel Hill and spoke of how King was able to stay the course, maintaining his high aspirations. Given the difficulty of what King was doing, West said King was not consistently anoptimist -how could he be? Instead, King was characterized as a "prisoner of hope." No matter the predicament or the prospects, he was hopeful. He could no more escape hope that he could escape the Birmingham jail where he penned his famous letter. In his 1963 speech in Washington, one of his classic lines referred to "hewing a stone of hope from a mountain of despair." In Marion Wright Edelman's book, The Measure of Our Success: A Letter to My Children and Yours, she quotes President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic. While literally imprisoned, Havel described ever-present hope in these terms, terms I relate to the hope of those who seek to advance a social justice agenda: "Either we have hope within us or we don't: it is a dimension of the sou1....Hope in this deep and powerful sense is....an ability to work for something because it is good, not just because it stands a chance to succeed....It is also this hope, above all, which gives us the strength to live and continually to try things, even in conditions that seem as hopeless as ours do here and now:' I do not mean to suggest that the Board of Commissioners should engage in quixotic endeavor or join Sisyphus in his rock pushing. But King personified this hope - a practical hope that must be kept alive, must inspire us to do more than we are, and to never, never give up. A social justice goal must say and do as much. ~ Holly Ramer. Edwards, Dean Vow Focus on Social Justice. The Herald Sun, October 20, 2003, page C9. z Michael Novak. Defining Social Justice. First Things. December 2000; http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft0012/opinion/novak.heml. This article discusses the historical evolution of the concept (term). s Social Justice Training Instit8ute. http://www.sjti.org/. ' Mick Dodson. Annual Report of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. 1993; http://www. dreamtime.net.au/indigenous/social.cfin. s Martha R. Mahoney, John O. Calmore and Stephanie M. Wildman. Social Justice: Professionals, Communities and Law, 2003,49-5 L 6 Marcia Bok. Civil Rights and the Social Programs of the 1960s: The Social Justice Functions of Social Policy, 1992, 15. ORANGE COUNTYSOCLAL JUSTICB ~iOAL 41 David Smith. Geography and Social Justice, 1994, 26. s Iris Marion Young. Justice and the Politics of D~erence, 1990, 15-16. 9 Thurgood Marshall. Reflections on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution. Harvard Law Review, 1987, 101/1, 1-2. 10 Martha Minow. Interpreting Rights: An Essay for Robert Cover. Yale Law Journal, 1987, 96, 860. " http://www.¢lobalstewards.ore,/marin.htm - Marin County's focus is primarily on environmental and social justice resources that are apparently coordinated by the county); http://www.countyofsb.ore/cao/hrc/workplan.asp - discusses aspects of the Santa Barbara Human Relations Commission Strategic Plan for 2002-2003; and http://www.freedom2lsantacruz.net/A21SC/justice.html -discusses the Santa Cruz initiatives. 1z Green Party; http://caereens.org/platform/socJus.htm. ~- Ox vv~~ Corr SocLfu. JUSTICE Go.-~c 42 ORANGE COUNTY .~' Q~IAL ~t,~ST~E C~QAL ~M~LEMENT~4TI~N ~L,AN AUGUST 2010 43 SOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN SOCIAL JUSTICE defined: The Orange County Human Relations Commission has defined social justice in Orange County as a community that actively seeks to eliminate oppression) and create equal opportunity; where individuals may sufficiently provide for their physical and mental needs and the needs of their dependents; where individuals live in physically and mentally safe communities; where the environment and economy are sustainable and where all are able to participate civically. Purpose of IMPLEMENTATION PLAN: To provide a systematic method of reviewing, planning, and decision-making regarding public policies, program, and projects developed by Orange County Government to ensure alignment with the SOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on IMPLEMENTATION PLAN L ANNUAL REVIEW OF SOCIAL JUSTICE GOAL RECOMMENDATIONS The Orange County Human Relations Commission (HRC) will review annually the actions recommended in the Social Justice Goal document adopted by the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on The HIZC will then provide a status report every September to the BoCC detailing the status of implementation of the recommendations. II. Social Justice Goal Impact Review Tool The Social Justice Goal Impact Review Tool (SJGIRT) is both a process and a tool to identify, evaluate, and communicate the potential impacts -both positive and negative - of a new Orange County policy, program, project, or the modification/revision to an existing policy, program, or project. This tool has three (3) stages: STAGE ~ WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE POLICY/PROGRAM/PROJECT ON THE ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE? STAGE ~~ ASSESSMENT: WHO IS AFFECTED? STAGE I I I IMPACT REVIEW ' Oppression is the systemic and pervasive intentional or unintentional mistreatment of individuals in a disadvantaged group. Institutional imbalances in power contribute to this mistreatment. Oppression involves the systemic use of power to marginalize, exploit, silence, discriminate against, invalidate, deny, dismiss and/or not recognize the complete humanness of those who are members of the disadvantaged group. Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination support oppression and keep it going. Oppressive systems and ideologies are maintained through discrimination. • Stereotypes are generalizations about groups of people that do not take into account within group differences. Prejudice is a preference or bias toward or against a group of people based on incomplete or inaccurate information. Discrimination is active; it is preferential or biased treatment based on stereotypes, prejudice, and /or historical practices. It results in unequal access and/or representation. Pagei'of1 Social Justice Goallm~lemextationPlan as f.~~#NGE ~f~UNTI( ~-t}GI~L ~1UST1~ AL IMF~A~' EV1~1t~ ~~!L AUGUST 2010 45 Introduction The Social Justice Goal is intended to provide a framework for the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) and other County government employees, as well as local residents and other stakeholders to ensure that social justice is paramount in decision- and policy-making. Delivering on the Goal will require collaborative efforts at all levels of government; careful allocation of tax dollars; and a personal and collective commitment to the ideology of equal access and equal treatment. To ensure there is common understanding of what social justice is, the Orange County Human Relations Commission has defined social justice in Orange County as a community that actively seeks to eliminate oppression2 and create equal opportunity; where individuals may sufficiently provide for their physical and mental needs and the needs of their dependents; where individuals live in physically and mentally safe communities; where the environment and economy are sustainable and where all are able to participate civically. The Social Justice Goal Impact Review Tool (SJGIRT) is both a process and a tool to identify, evaluate, and communicate the potential impacts -both positive and negative - of a new Orange County policy, program, project, or the modification/revision to an existing policy, program, or project. This tool has three (3) stages: STAGE I WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE POLICY/PROGRAM/PROJECT ON THE ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE? The aim of the first stage is to determine whether the proposed policy, program, or project will have an impact on social justice or not. STAGE II ASSESSMENT: WHO IS AFFECTED? This stage identifies who is likely to be affected by the policy/program/project. STAGE III IMPACT REVIEW The third stage involves identifying the impacts of the policy/program/project from a social justice perspective. The goal is to develop a list of likely impacts and actions to ensure that negative impacts are mitigated and positive impacts are enhanced. z Oppression is the systemic and pervasive intentional or unintentional mistreatment of individuals in a disadvantaged group. Institutional imbalances in power contribute to this mistreatment. Oppression involves the systemic use of power to marginalize, exploit, silence, discriminate against, invalidate, deny, dismiss and/or not recognize the complete humanness of those who are members of the disadvantaged group. Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination support oppression and keep it going. Oppressive systems and ideologies are maintained through discrimination. • Stereotypes are generalizations about groups of people that do not take into account within group differences. • Prejudice is a preference or bias toward or against a group of people based on incomplete or inaccurate information. • Discrimination is active; it is preferential or biased treatment based on stereotypes, prejudice, and /or historical practices. It results in unequal access and/or representation. Puge 1 o f 12 46 Stage I: WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE POLICY/PROGRAM/PROJECT ON THE ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE? The aim of this stage is to determine whether the policy/program/project will have an impact on social justice. This stage also requires an assessment of the magnitude or significance of the impact on social justice. Title of Policy/Program/Project: Responsible Department: A. Describe the policy/program/project (include objectives, general geographic area of focus if applicable). B. What are the intended outcomes of this policy/program/project? Page 2 of 12 47 Stage I: WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE POLICY/PROGRAM/PROJECT ON THE ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL JUSTICE? (continued) Stage 1 lists elements of social justice that may be impacted by the proposed policy/ program/project that you are considering. As a first step in using this tool, please read through this list. Think about what you know about the proposed policy/program/project and consider whether and how it may impact any of the elements of social justice listed. Please check the elements of the social justice vision to determine how they apply to your policy/program/project. If your answer is none, then you are done. ^ Striving for the elimination of oppression and inequity by creating an environment of equal opportunity in which no groups are targeted for harassment, exclusion, intimidation or violence. ^ Ensuring economic self-sufficiency by fostering a sustainable community in which individuals can sufficiently provide for the physical, social, and mental needs of themselves and their dependents, and by providing safety net mechanisms for those who find themselves unable to do so. ^ Creating a safe community by supporting policies, procedures, regulations, and programs that reduce harassment, exclusion, intimidation, and violence against Orange County residents. ^ Establishing sustainable and equitable land-use and environmental policies by creating land-use policies that are fair, reasonable and in line with a sustainable economy. ^ Enabling full civic participation by Orange County residents through the elimination of disparities in participation and the elimination of barriers to participation in government through voting and volunteering. PROCEED TO STAGE II Page 3 of 12 48 Stage II. WHO IS AFFECTED? Sta9@ ~~ identifies who is likely to be affected by the proposed policy/program/project. Use data to identify the population groups that will experience a differential impact. At the end of this stage you will be able to identify which segments of the population will benefit and which segments will be burdened. RESOURCES The following resources may help you determine who may be impacted throughout the county. • Orange County Census data • Orange County GIS maps • Department-specific data (data your department has always looked at) • Data on clients or consumers of services • Data on community partners or contractors who provide services (they may also be a source of data) • Relevant research or literature Stage II.A SOCIAL JUSTICE ASSESSMENT (maps, tables, charts or graphs may be helpful in this assessment). Is our proposal (please check one of the following): A county-wide proposal If "yes," go to Stage ILA. l A proposal focused on a specific geographic area If "yes," go to Stage II.A.2 A capital project If "yes," go to Stage II.A.3 A proposal focused on a special population If "yes," go to Stage II.A.4 An internal county proposal If "yes," go to Stage II.A.S Stage II.A.1 IF COUNTY-WIDE PROPOSALS: Identify population characteristics for the population most directly affected. [When Stage ILA.l is complete, proceed to Stage ILB.IJ Page4of12 49 Stage ILA.2 IF SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC AREA(S~: Identify the demographics of the area, particularly by race/ethnicity, income level and limited English proficiency. [When Stage II.A.1 is complete, proceed to Stage II.B.2J Stage ILA.3 IF CAPITAL PROTECT: Identify population characteristics for the population most directly affected or targeted by this policy/program/project. [When Stage ILA.3 is complete, proceed to Stage II.B.3J Stage ILA.4 IF SPECIAL POPULATION(S~: Identify the demographics of the population, particularly by race/ethnicity, income level and limited English proficiency. [When Stage ILA.4 is complete, proceed to Stage ILB.IJ Pnge5_of12 __ _ _ __ 50 Stage ILA.5 IF INTERNAL COUNTY PROPOSAL: Identify the department, division, or area of focus for the proposed policy/program/project and include employee characteristics. When Stage ILA.4 is complete, proceed to Stage II.B.IJ Stag@ 11.B A11AIySiS: Using the assessment information above, review and interpret your findings to determine which population group(s) will benefit and which will not. Stage 11.6.1 Please list the population group(s) positively or negatively affected by the proposed policy/program/project. (These are the groups identified above in responses to Stage ILA.1, 2, 3, or 4) Stage 11.6.2 II the policy/program/project targets a specific geographic area, provide information for why you selected this geographic area instead of other areas of the County. Page6of12 51 Stage 11.6.3 For capital projects, will this proposed policy/program/project have a negative or positive impact on the surrounding community or increase the current burdens to that community? ^ YES or ^ No If "yes," please describe. PROCEED TO STAGE ~~~ Page7of12 52 Stage III: IMPACT REVIEW: OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION A. Actions to mitigate/enhance negative/positive impact Stage III.A involves identifying the impacts of the proposal from a social justice goal perspective. The goal is to develop a list of likely impacts and actions to ensure that negative impacts are mitigated and positive impacts are enhanced. ^ What are the social justice impacts of this proposed policy/program/project? ^ Does the proposed policy/program/project have a potentially positive social justice impact on a specific community or neighborhood? ^ If a proposed policy/program/project has a negative social justice impact, is there an alternative that provides a less negative impact? ^ If a proposed policy/program/project has a negative social justice impact, how can those negatively impacted have their concerns heard by the decision-makers? RefefenCe: KINCCouwTYEQU1SyIMPaCTREViEwTooL: King County, Washington _ _ Page 8 of 12 IfIG~ SocinlJustice Goal Impact Review Tool 53 OPTIONAL WORKSHEET (~) Population(s) Affected Disproportionately (populations from Stage II:B.1 list (2) Describe Potential Positive Impact (Beneficial) (3) Describe Potential Negative Impact (Adverse) (4) Actions to enhance positive or mitigate negative/other comments Reference: KINCCOUNTYEQUITI'IMPACTREPIEWTOOG: King County, Washington Page 9 of 12