Long Beach Framework For Reconciliation

On June 23, 2020, the Long Beach City Council unanimously adopted a resolution acknowledging racism as a public health crisis and introduced the Framework for Reconciliation. This initiative aims to address and eliminate systemic racism, particularly anti-Black racism, within the city. The framework outlines a four-step process:

• Acknowledge: Recognize the existence and longstanding impacts of systemic racism in Long Beach and the broader society.
• Listen: Engage with community members to hear their experiences and accounts of racial injustice and inequity.
• Convene: Bring together stakeholders to evaluate feedback from the listening sessions and develop policy, budgetary, and programmatic reforms.
• Catalyze: Implement immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term recommendations to advance racial equity.

Following this framework, the city conducted multiple listening sessions and town halls, gathering input from over 1,500 participants. While specific Black-led organizations are not explicitly named in the available sources, the city’s outreach efforts aimed to include representatives from organizations supporting and providing services for Black residents and other communities of color. Nearly 50 community stakeholders and subject matter experts were invited to participate in stakeholder convenings, selected based on their active involvement in Long Beach and participation in the listening sessions.

This collaborative effort led to the development of the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative – Initial Report, released on August 3, 2020. The report outlines 21 strategies and 107 potential action plans focusing on government transformation, community safety, policing reforms, violence prevention, health equity, and economic inclusion.

Analysis

Does the policy solution re-distribute power from mainstream institutions to impacted Black communities?

The Framework for Reconciliation seeks to redistribute power by actively involving Black communities and other marginalized groups in the decision-making process. By prioritizing their voices in shaping policies and reforms, the initiative aims to shift influence from traditional power structures to those historically impacted by systemic racism.

Does this policy provide more decision-making power at the hands of Black communities?

Yes, the policy emphasizes community engagement, ensuring that Black residents have a significant role in identifying issues and crafting solutions. The listening sessions and stakeholder convenings are designed to empower Black communities with greater influence over policies that affect their lives.

Does the policy undermine extractive economies like capitalism and restore community power around a local and regenerative economy/primary production?

While the primary focus of the initiative is on racial equity and reconciliation, aspects such as economic inclusion strategies have the potential to challenge extractive economic practices. By promoting equitable economic opportunities and supporting local businesses within Black communities, the policy can contribute to fostering a more regenerative and community-centered economy.

Does the policy repair past harm and uphold civil and human rights, health, and environmental protections?

The initiative acknowledges historical injustices and aims to address them through comprehensive strategies targeting systemic racism. By focusing on areas like health equity, violence prevention, and policing reforms, the policy endeavors to repair past harms and uphold civil and human rights, as well as improve health outcomes for Black residents in Long Beach.

Developed by Natalie Rivas