The City’s Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) is recruiting community members to help create a more equitable future where everyone can thrive —regardless of race, place, or means. EDI originated from community organizations advocating against displacement and insufficient investment in Seattle’s communities of color. EDI projects support community ownership, resilience, cultural expression, and wellbeing, particularly for marginalized groups.
- EDI is seeking people rooted in communities at high risk of displacement who want to address deep and persisting inequities. If this sounds like you, consider applying to join the Equitable Development Initiative Community Advisory Board.
Application and Compensation
- The priority deadline to submit an application is at 5:00 p.m. on February 27, 2024.
- Applications received after the priority deadline, will considered until all positions are filled.
- Compensation includes a monthly stipend of $60/hour, up to $300.00 for full participation.
Complete and submit your application on the City’s Boards and Commissions website.
EDI Board Overview and Duties
- EDI Board members act as key advisors, guiding the award of millions of dollars of City funds in projects that help diverse communities thrive and remain rooted in Seattle by reducing displacement pressures through community-led projects.
- The Board’s work is part of improving community outcomes in marginalized communities — including Indigenous, Black, people of color, immigrant communities, LGBTQ communities, and differently abled.
- Projects recommended by the EDI Board support capacity building and the acquisition, improvement, or development of community places and spaces that benefit the public by increasing access to jobs, cultural hubs, education and childcare, healthy food, outdoor space and recreation, and other community services and amenities.
Monthly EDI Board member duties
- Serving as community liaisons, nurturing meaningful collaboration that improves outcomes
- Elevating and advocating for the voices and needs of communities often marginalized in public process
- Participating in one full board meeting and one subcommittee meeting
- Crafting EDI annual funding criteria and making recommendations for EDI funding awards
- Supporting the development and implementation of equitable development strategies and policies
- Developing Board communications, reports, policy and practice recommendations, and other items
- Advancing Racial Equity and Social Justice and challenging institutional and systemic racism or inequity,
- Convening stakeholders to build knowledge of and capacity around equitable development goals.
- Reviewing and assessing monitoring plans
- Make appointment recommendations and evaluate letters of interest of individuals wishing to serve on the board to determine whether they meet the membership criteria
Highly desired applicants will be able to represent the following:
- Seattle’s low access to opportunity and high risk for displacement areas (see maps on pages 16 and 18 of the City’s Equity Analysis and Displacement Risk Index.
- Neighborhoods that have experienced significant displacement and been subject to discriminatory policies or practices.
- Experience with involuntary displacement from Seattle
- Experience being targeted by racially discriminatory policies and practices
- Experience with equitable development, real estate financing and transactions, or affordable housing
For more information
Visit our EDI webpage and read our EDI Framework and Implementation Plan. For additional questions, or if you’d prefer to submit your application and Statement of Interest over email, please send those materials to Abesha Shiferaw (Abesha.Shiferaw@seattle.gov).