As we celebrate Black History Month, it is a wonderful opportunity to share some of the ways in which SEMCOG embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion!
SEMCOG’s Vision Statement reaffirms our commitment by declaring,
All people of Southeast Michigan benefit from a connected, thriving region of small towns, dynamic urban centers, active waterfronts, diverse neighborhoods, premier educational institutions, and abundant agricultural, recreational, and natural areas.
SEMCOG serves the Southeast Michigan region, which includes Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne Counties. Membership is open to all counties, cities, villages, townships, intermediate school districts, and community colleges.
SEMCOG is proudly celebrating a record-high membership total of 185 members!
Overview of SEMCOG’s membership in Southeast Michigan
Did you know that SEMCOG’s Community Profiles tool shows us that of the 4.8 million people in Southeast Michigan, almost 21% are Black, 5% are Asian, and 4% are Hispanic?
Community profiles data
One of the many wonderful things to celebrate about Southeast Michigan is that it is home to a diverse population with residents of all ages and abilities, who represent various races and ethnicities, and who speak several languages. This diversity makes our region strong, with thousands of neighborhoods, each geographically, demographically, culturally, and economically unique.
SEMCOG’s Equity Emphasis Mapping Tool is an interactive application that provides a detailed summary of racial numbers, but other less common socioeconomic indicators are also available, such as persons in poverty, disengaged youth, transit-dependent households, and the number of foreign-born residents. This information is valuable to communities and partner organizations seeking a data-driven understanding of their local community composition and needs. This robust information to beneficial to effective, inclusive planning.
The City of Pontiac overview on the Equity Emphasis Areas map and dashboard
Justice40 Initiative
Justice40 is a national commitment to Environmental Justice, specifying that 40% of the overall benefits of investments (in particular, funding disbursed through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) are delivered to underserved and underinvested communities. The core values reflect the following guiding principles:
Local leadership is best when collaboration happens
Local leaders need support and resources to sustain positive change
Community voices matter in decision-making
Diversity, equity, inclusion, creativity, and learning matter and fuel innovation
In support of this initiative, in January of 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14008. The order directed the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to develop a new tool, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. It uses climate, environmental and socio-economic measures to identify disadvantaged communities, that are overburdened by pollution and marginalized by disinvestment.
The tool has an interactive map and uses datasets that are indicators of burdens in eight categories:
- Climate change,
- Clean energy,
- Health,
- Affordable and sustainable housing,
- Remediation of legacy pollution,
- Transportation,
- Clean water and wastewater infrastructure, and
- Workforce development.
The tool uses this information to identify communities that are experiencing these burdens. This information is available as a layer on SEMCOG’s Equity Emphasis Mapping Tool.
Our planning and implementation work incorporates equity as a critical component. We know the region can only prosper if prosperity is attainable for everyone, and we are working to better understand and address opportunity gaps.
Aligned with this federal focus and our commitment to equity, SEMCOG launched the Justice40 Communities Task Force. The Task Force Co-Chairs are Mayor William Campbell of the City of River Rouge and Mayor Laura Kropp of the City of Mount Clemens.
Utilizing the federal Justice40 analysis tools (Climate and Economic Justice Screening Areas and the US DOT Equitable Transportation Areas), SEMCOG has identified the 35 Southeast Michigan communities as having at least half of their neighborhoods identified as Justice40 communities. The chief elected official (or their representative) from these communities were invited to participate in the task force.
Communities participating in the Justice40 Communities Task Force
The Justice40 Communities Initiative aims to ensure that all voices and communities are heard in regional planning and initiatives, and that support is provided to communities in their path to prosperity. As SEMCOG continues to incorporate equity into regional planning and initiatives, our Justice40 effort is specifically intended to engage member communities who have received a Justice40 designation. Through the Justice40 Communities Task Force, SEMCOG will connect communities to resources for which they are eligible and provide a space for collaboration and sharing of opportunities, challenges, and successes.
Photos from the Justice40 Communities Task Force meeting
The Justice40 Initiative reflects SEMCOG’s commitment to an inclusive Southeast Michigan, which states:
SEMCOG recognizes, values, embraces, and celebrates diversity. The people of Southeast Michigan are characterized by a variety of experiences, talents, and world views. Understanding the things that make us different enables us to better focus on the values and goals that unite us. For all of us to arrive in the same place, it is essential to grasp and honor where each of us is starting from.
Inclusion is a core value for SEMCOG and its members. We strive to maintain a culture of open, meaningful collaboration. Representation from people with perspectives as diverse as our region enables us to work more effectively toward our vision.
At SEMCOG, we strive to listen, and we welcome the thoughts and concerns of all as we work to address the needs of those we serve. Every time we assist in providing better educational and career opportunities or help build a healthier community, we begin to fulfill our shared obligation to the future. At SEMCOG, elected leaders from local governments and education districts are working together to be part of the solution to racial and social justice.
At SEMCOG, I am extremely fortunate to be a member of an organization, that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion – both internally and externally. In 2020, SEMCOG staff members established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council to work in partnership with SEMCOG leadership to promote the value of diversity and equity in our workplace. The DEI Council consists of SEMCOG staff members-who have stepped up to work on collaborative efforts to support and maintain an inclusive environment of belonging for all of our talented and committed team members. These individuals are dedicated to the DEI council’s mission and SEMCOG’s mission, and work with leadership to support the organizational culture and integrate best practices, as part of building a cohesive, respectful, and thriving team.
As a proud team member of SEMCOG, the DEI Council, and the staff supporting the Justice40 Communities Task Force, I am honored to work for an organization whose commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is real and ongoing! Join in the celebration!
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