Mayor’s Racial Justice and Equity Alliance (MRJEA)

The Illinois Municipal League seeks greater collaboration for municipal governments with the state government in the battle against COVID-19. | Pixabay

By Press release submission

Aug 11, 2021

City of Lansing recently issued the following announcement.

This morning, Mayor Andy Schor was joined members of the Mayor’s Racial Justice and Equity Alliance (MRJEA) to announce the completion of their report on Racial Justice and Equity in the City of Lansing.

In July of 2020, Mayor Schor announced that the City of Lansing initiated development of a long-term Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan. Attorney Teresa Bingman, an expert consultant on racial justice and equity, led the process while working with City departments, MRJEA and community members.

“I’m grateful to Mayor Schor for granting me the honor and privilege to help lead this effort and I appreciate the community’s involvement and support,” said Attorney Teresa A. Bingman. “Throughout the process, I remained inspired by the Mayor’s leadership, vision and steadfast commitment to racial justice and equity. While the nation’s response to the murder of George Floyd ignited this work, it is the passion of the Lansing community, coupled with the commitment and focus of the Mayor and his staff, the MRJEA Executive Team, MRJEA appointees, and collaborative partners that powered this report. It is my hope and desire that this roadmap will shed light to create a new path and blaze a trail that will level the playing field to achieve racial justice and equity in the City of Lansing.”

In December 2020, Mayor Schor issued Executive Directive (ED) 2020-03 recommitting the City of Lansing to fair and bias-free treatment of all people. Included in this ED was a list of committees who have gathered and synthesized public input and research to help create the final report.

“The Ingham County Board of Commissioners answered the call to declare racism as a public health crisis in June 2020,” said Ingham County Health Officer Linda S. Vail. “Policies, practices and procedures that result in implicit and explicit bias must be addressed throughout Ingham County and beyond. That is why I am pleased that Mayor Schor tapped me to work with the MRJEA to help develop a community-inspired plan of action to mitigate bias in the delivery of government services and bring an end to structural racism.”

Press release and link to report: https://www.lansingmi.gov/1/Home...

Original source can be found here.