The Washington Regional Equity Network supports equitable economic development and access
to jobs, housing, and transportation choices, public accountability in planning, access to quality
education, workforce and health care training , and environmentally responsible growth patterns.
We seek to create social and economic opportunity for low-income residents and people of color--
through more balanced investment in older, urban and suburban areas.
We believe regional collaboration by business, governments, non-profits and foundations will
maximize economic success and quality of life for all. By working in partnership with dozens of
other grass roots organizations, individuals, policy makers, and interest groups, we seek to
increase regional equity, build our organizing capacity, and assist each other with local
implementation.
We commit to:
- 1: Economic Development and Access to Jobs:
- Promote public and private economic investment in locations that improve access
to jobs and transportation for lower-income residents and people of color.
- 2: Housing and Transportation Choices:
- Ensure that the public, private, and non-profit sectors use funding, incentives, and
regulatory tools to provide a wider range of housing choices, so people can find
homes that they can afford.
- Promote increased investment in transit, car sharing, and safe pedestrian, and
bicycle facilities to reduce household costs for transportation.
- 3: Public Accountability in Planning:
- Promote democratic citizen participation in planning that benefits local
communities, producing a "double bottom line" for neighborhood residents and
businesses.
- Ensure that development includes commitments for living wage jobs, local
community hiring, access to transit, environmental improvements, community
service centers, affordable housing, and community involvement in pre -
development planning.
- 4: Quality Education, Workforce Development, and Health Care:
- Provide access to high quality pre - K through 12, technical, and higher education in
all parts of the region, creating the opportunity for more students to succeed,
enhancing the mix of incomes and private investment in all communities.
- Ensure investment in workforce development to enable our young people and new
immigrants to participate fully in the economic success of the region.
- Reduce existing disparities in health, ensuring equitable access to high-quality
preventive and health-care services for all people in the region.
- 5: Environmentally Responsible Growth Patterns:
- Promote land use and transportation policies to ensure our air is safe to breathe,
our water is safe for drinking, fishing, and swimming, and all residents have access
to parks and natural areas.
- 6: Building Organizing Capacity and Community-Driven Coalitions:
- Focus on community organizing to expand public involvement by racially and
economically diverse networks of people and organizations committed to smarter
growth and regional equity.
- Increase our success by analyzing new trends and data, sharing information,
supporting local efforts of each group, and engaging in joint campaigns.
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