In June of 2020, Akron City Council, with support from Mayor Dan Horrigan, declared racism a public health crisis. Within Akron City Council’s declaration was a call for the establishment of a Taskforce assembled for the purposes of developing a pro-equity strategic plan responsive to this crisis.
The Racial Equity and Social Justice Taskforce (“the Taskforce”) began its work on November 10, 2020. The Taskforce’s mission is to build public trust in the community by formulating meaningful recommendations of policy change to create a more racially equitable, socially just community, and to bridge the racial wealth divide in the City of Akron. Recommendations of such policy change will be outlined in a five-year Strategic Plan, which will be delivered to the Mayor, City Council, and the community by early 2022.
The executive committee, appointed by the Mayor and Council President and approved by City Council, includes 29 community members from diverse backgrounds and disciplines—joined together by a common commitment to develop a pro-equity agenda for the City of Akron. The Taskforce is chaired by Bishop F. J. Johnson II, currently serving as Senior Pastor at House of the Lord and Presiding Bishop of the Beth-El Fellowship of Visionary Churches.There are 6 subcommittees that report to the executive committee and provide quarterly reports of their progress.
The Taskforce subcommittees include:
- Equitable Workforce Development and Job Creation
- Criminal Justice System
- Health Care/Public Health
- Housing
- Education
- Communications
The Strategic Plan will include specific policy recommendations, timelines, and funding allocations required to achieve the recommendations.
Final Report and Taskforce Recommendations with 5 year strategic plan
- Click here for a list of Executive Committee members
- Click here for the full Taskforce Framework
- Click here for the Subcommittees' Quarter 1 Report
- Click here for the Subcommittees' Quarter 2 Report
- Click here for the Subcommittees' Quarter 3 Report
- Click here for the Taskforce Drive (home page)
- Click here for December 2020 information
- Click here for YouTube channel
