DOWNLOAD THE LAUNCH REPORT HERE.
California has long been known as a beacon for progressive politics, but for many communities of color and Indigenous people, this idealistic vision of California has never been the reality. Our report launching RACE COUNTS makes the case for racial equity and lays out a path to achieve that vision for all Californians. Through our three-dimensional analysis of racial equity — looking at performance, disparity, and impact across 44 indicators in seven issue areas — we find that though racial disparities are present everywhere in California, each region has its own unique landscape of key issues and needs:
- The high-performing, high-disparity Bay Area is a cautionary tale showing that a rising tide does not lift all boats.
- The low-performing Central Valley shows that sometimes racial disparities are low because all residents are deprived, highlighting the need for broad coalitions that prioritize equity.
- The stakes for people of color in the gigantic Los Angeles County are especially high, given its size and its high disparities on indicators such as incarceration rates.
Through intentional coalition-building, customized, local data, and taking on the key drivers of racial disparity, we have the opportunity to make sure the California we pass down is fairer, better, and stronger than the one we were given.