Forward Pinellas Board Adopts Equity Action Plan
~~ Equity Assessment Identifies Opportunities to Create a More Equitable Pinellas ~~
PINELLAS COUNTY, FL —- Forward Pinellas Board adopted the Equity Assessment Action Plan on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, in an effort to ensure all work at Forward Pinellas is inclusive and results in equitable outcomes for our entire community. Launched in 2020, the Equity Assessment was the first step in identifying our community needs and opportunities to help remove existing barriers to transportation, jobs, education, housing that’s affordable and other resources.
“More than 70% of our most dangerous roadways in Pinellas County are in low income and minority communities,” said Forward Pinellas Chair and Indian Rocks Beach Mayor Joanne Cookie Kennedy. “I am proud the Forward Pinellas Board adopted this Equity Action Plan to make strides to keeping all people safe on our roadways. I’m looking forward to finding solutions to ensure everyone has access to jobs, transportation, education and affordable homes.”
“At Forward Pinellas, we are ethically bound to serve the public interest work to achieve more socially just decision-making not only through our agency’s mission, but also the AICP Code of Ethics,” says Forward Pinellas Executive Director, Whit Blanton, FAICP. “This assessment is the first step to looking introspectively at our work as an agency and working to break down barriers for everyone, especially those from underrepresented communities in Pinellas County.”
The Equity Assessment Action Plan is the first step to acknowledging our responsibility as planners to plan for the needs of disadvantaged people, seek social justice, and redefine our internal structure, outreach and policies, as well as the way we plan and prioritize funding for transportation projects throughout the county.
Goals and Objectives Identified in the Equity Assessment Action Plan Include:
- Increasing community voice for historically excluded communities
- Building communities of opportunity
- Developing equitable access to transportation, jobs, education, and homes
- Strengthening awareness and partner collaboration
If you’re interested in getting involved with Forward Pinellas’ work to ensure everyone has equitable opportunities, contact us today: forwardpinellas.org/get-involved
For more information about the Equity Assessment, visit www.forwardpinellas.org/equity