Culver City's Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP)

1. Overview

The City desires to continue its efforts to embed racial equity into its framework, through current and future policies, procedures, and structure and to evaluate policy decisions to eliminate and/or modify public policies that have created, supported, or exacerbated racial inequities.

To find out the latest on the project:

• Visit the Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Project Site.
• View the Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Fact Sheet here.(PDF, 155KB)

2. Project Scope (The Nuts and Bolts)

REAP Development: The REAP sets forth a vision for how the City can address racial inequities built into existing City policies, programs, practices, and organizational structure and develop strategies to improve outcomes for all residents. Using the framework of targeted universalism, the REAP makes an intentional effort to pursue goals that benefit the entire community while using targeted strategies to achieve those goals based on the needs of different groups. The REAP should incorporate ongoing City efforts, including but not limited to public safety reform, reparations study, minimum wage ordinance, possible universal basic income pilot project, the General Plan Update, and leverage City’s participation in the Government Alliance on Race network and other institutional resources.

1. REAP Development: Develop the City’s Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP) aims to embed racial equity throughout the City’s policies, procedures and structure.
2. Community Engagement: Facilitate community engagement through identifying organizations and key stakeholders in partnership to inform, develop, and implement the REAP strategies.
3. Capacity Building and Development: Develop a training and development program to build staff capacity to better apply the use of a racial equity lens in organizational decision-making.

To find out the latest on the project:

• Visit the Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Project Site.
• View the Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Fact Sheet here.(PDF, 155KB)

3. The First Steps!

One of the first steps in this process involved a release of a Proclamation by City Council in 20XX to declare the City’s commitment to creating an environment of racial equity amongst employees as well as community wide. Subsequently, a Historical Context Study was conducted to examine past City Policies and Procedures that caused negative impacts, and/or that supported or exacerbated racial inequities within Culver City. The findings from the historical context study will be used to help inform the development of the City’s Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP), in addition to other equity related projects. The REAP will apply a results-based accountability framework to facilitate the normalization of conversations around race, the development of staff capacity (awareness) through training, and to operationalize racial equity by embedding this lens into routine decision and policymaking.

The City of Culver City (City) carefully reviewed and evaluated 16 proposals submitted for RFP #2406, which opened on August 18, 2023, and closed on October 16, 2023. After several evaluation processes held between November 2023 and January 2024, the City selected and contracted with Keen Independent Research LLC to develop a Racial Equity Action Plan for the City of Culver City. Keen Independent Research LLC (Keen) will assist with REAP development, by facilitating the following tasks:

• An in-depth Current City Policy, Process and Procedure Review;
• Stakeholder convenings;
• Community Engagement in the development of the REAP; and
• Building capacity among staff for ongoing implementation and performance monitoring.

Want to learn more? Read about Keen Independent Research LLC and Culver City's Racial Equity Action Plan below: 

• Visit Keen Independent Research LLC's Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Project Site.
• View Keen Independent Research LLC's Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Fact Sheet here.(PDF, 155KB)

4. Where we are! Phase I

Keen is concurrently concluding the first phase of the project which includes the following tasks: and starting the second phase of the project.

• Review of current Policies, Programs and Procedures;
• Workforce Analysis;
• Preliminary Identification of Highest Priorities; and
• Conducting/facilitating Internal Stakeholder Engagement

Keen is in the process of evaluating and reviewing current City Policies and Procedures and will be conducting a series of presentations with the Culver City- City Council and the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC). The Culver City Council and the ERHAC presentation will take place during public meetings on the dates listed below. The links for viewing the meeting and the agenda can be found below the week prior to the presentation.

• Tuesday, July 23, 2024: REAP Presentation on Process and Q&A with the Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (ERHAC)
• Monday, August 12, 2024: REAP Presentation on Process and Q&A with City Council
• Hosted a Listening Sessions with the Culver City Executive Management Team and the Equity Ad Hoc Committee in late June.

Want to learn more? Read about Keen Independent Research LLC and Culver City's Racial Equity Action Plan below: 

• Visit Keen Independent Research LLC's Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Project Site.
• View Keen Independent Research LLC's Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Fact Sheet here.(PDF, 155KB)

5. Where we are going! Phase II

Phase II Generalized Tasks:

• Community Engagement
• Racial Equity Action Plan Development
• Implementation 

More Details

Project Consultant Information

Read about Keen Independent Research LLC and Culver City's Racial Equity Action Plan below: 

• Visit Keen Independent Research LLC's Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Project Site.
• View Keen Independent Research LLC's Culver City Racial Equity Action Plan Fact Sheet here.(PDF, 155KB)