Austin has a long history of systemic racism and racial inequity that continues today. Throughout history, communities of color have been excluded, marginalized, and discriminated against as a result of City policies and practices. This history was reinforced by segregationist policies throughout the 20th century affecting a range of Austin venues, including schools, public parks, and commercial businesses, among others. The Equity Office was created in 2016 to focus on advancing equity in all aspects of City operations. Learn more about what we do.
- Equity Office Staff
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Get in touch! Visit our staff page to see staff roles, biographies, and contact information. You'll also find the Equity Office's Organizational Chart.
- History of the Equity Office
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One of the most disheartening chapters of this legacy was the City of Austin’s Master Plan of 1928, which divided the City along racial lines by moving community services for African American and Hispanic/Latinx residents to East Austin. African-American and Hispanic Austinites who tried to settle in areas outside of the designated district were often denied access services such as utilities and public schools. Despite these challenges, communities of color in Austin thrived and developed strong, close knit, and vibrant communities.
While Austin was most recently recognized by US News and World Report as “The Best Place to Live in the U.S.,” the City consistently makes national lists as a city with severe inequality. In 1950, Austin was fourth in the country for the most income inequality. In 2015, the University of Toronto’s Martin Prosperity Institute listed Austin as the most economically segregated city in the country. Legacies of displacement by wealthier white Austinites and lack of access to opportunity for people of color have marked the city with continued racial disparities.
In an effort to address racial inequity in Austin, City Council passed Resolution No. 20150507-027 in 2015, which directed the City Manager to evaluate the impact of existing city policies and practices on racial equity and develop an Equity Assessment Tool that can be used across City departments during the budget process.The Equity Office was created in 2016 to focus on advancing equity in all aspects of City operations. The first Chief Equity Officer, Brion Oaks, began this work in October 2016.