RACIAL EQUITY ORGANIZATIONAL ASSESSMENT AND FRAMEWORK

AV Consulting supports organizations embed racial equity into their policies, practices, and cultures. These projects illustrate how we partner with clients to design actionable strategies, from the development of customized equity tools like the Racial Equity Values Assessment Tool (REVAT) to the facilitation of equity-driven hiring processes, strategic plans, and organizational audits. Through these efforts, we aim to create environments where equity is not only a value but a lived practice, influencing decision-making, policy formation, and long-term organizational growth.

RACIAL EQUITY FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT & AUDIT - CITY OF BURIEN | 2023- - CURRENT |

AV Consulting is currently facilitating the development of a racial equity framework with the City of Burien, called the REVAT (Racial Equity Values Assessment Tool) as the first step toward the implementation of its five-year Strategic Plan. The consulting team has been facilitating the process in partnership with the City’s Advancing Racial Equity Committee (ARE). This includes the co-creation of the framework, the design and execution of a city-wide racial equity training exploration assessment, and train-the-trainer sessions to bring all city staff up to speed on the REVAT. To pilot the initial draft of the framework, AV Consulting supported the ARE in applying it to current hiring processes, including new leadership positions, such as the recruitment of the latest Public Works Director. The pilot included applying the REVAT to job description development, position outreach strategies, interview panel onboarding, interview question design, and candidate decision-making. The next steps consist of community vetting of the REVAT, as well as the facilitation of the application of the REVAT to two city-wide initiatives so that more staff can, through its hands-on application, learn how to navigate the tool resulting in tangible and sustainable policy and practice change.

RACIAL EQUITY ASSESSMENT & WORK PLAN DEVELOPMENT - KING COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION - EXECUTIVE & MANAGEMENT TEAM | 2023 - CURRENT |

AV Consulting is conducting a culture and equity assessment of the executive leadership and management team in response to staff input related to the division's antiracism and equity work. The consulting team is providing antiracism training, coaching, and facilitation. The current process involves engaging staff in the development of trauma-informed norms and accountability mechanisms to support staff and management with the development of an internal race and social justice work plan aimed at building trust and cohesion across the various teams.

RACIAL EQUITY ANALYSIS FOR MASTER FILM & SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT FEE REFORM – CITY OF SEATTLE - OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (OED) |2023 - 24 |

AV Consulting conducted a racial equity analysis to assess cost recovery and identify current and potential future barriers to Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+, communities with disabilities, and other underserved groups based on its Film & Special Events permitting fees. Through two separate processes, our team designed an executed public engagement to actively involve a diverse range of seasoned and emerging filmmakers and seasoned and potential first-time special event coordinators. Both approaches began with listening sessions targeted at those who had navigated the permitting process followed, by a broader electronic survey. Listening session learnings led to a second round of engagement activities that combined an educational component with additional requests for input on fees and other potential barriers to the permitting processes. Once complete, all the feedback was processed through the City of Seattle’s Racial Equity Toolkit and shared through report-back sessions where listening session participants confirmed the final recommendations.

WHITE AFFINITY GROUP FACILITATION - KING COUNTY BEST START FOR KIDS | 2022 - 2024 |

AV Consulting facilitated a work plan development process for the BSK white caucus. The work plan aimed to identify a set of actions to place members of the caucus which includes county directors, managers, evaluators, and staff as allies to BIPOC-driven initiatives for the BSK work. In addition, AV Consulting worked with caucus members to develop a charter which includes establishing their purpose statement, work agreements and, a framework for how the caucus will function. The charter process also resulted in the development of a REVAT which caucus members now use in their decision-making. In addition, the consulting team coached members on how to structure and facilitate future meetings including building a decision-making process, identifying, and developing an antiracism training plan and, using AV Consulting Racial Equity Values Assessment Tool (REVAT) to ensure BIPOC colleagues are at the forefront of vetting and providing feedback on their work plan.

RACIAL EQUITY FACILITATOR - WASHINGTON STATE HOUSING FINANCE COMMISSION | 2021 - 2024 |

AV Consulting began its contract with WSHFC in 2020 to facilitate a visioning process for its ten-member race and social justice equity team (RJET). The work included conducting a preliminary assessment of Executive Leadership and RJET members to assess perceptions and experiences associated with power and racial dynamics at the Commission. These findings were used to design and facilitate a series of visioning sessions resulting in the development of a team charter with an established purpose, racial equity values, and team agreements. In the summer of 2021, AV Consulting's contract was expanded to facilitate commission-wide staff dialogues to identify barriers and a vision for how to improve the Commission’s antiracism work. The results of these dialogues along with the facilitation of the RJET’s monthly meetings informed the development and implementation of the RJET’s work plan and was also used as a foundation for the Commission’s 2023 Antiracism Strategic Plan. Parallel to this work, AV Consulting facilitated two internal work groups to revamp the agency’s hiring and conflict resolution policies and practices integrating a racial equity lens. Every Division within the Commission was also guided to develop Safe Space Principles with accountability mechanisms. This three-year relationship was completed in February of 2024 with the final task of conducting a staff-informed antiracism assessment of each Division Director which identified a baseline of performance metrics to assist their newly hired Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

RACIAL EQUITY FRAMEWORK DEVELOPMENT & STRATEGIC PLANNING - SAN FRANCISCO CHILDCARE PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CPAC) | 2023|

AV Consulting facilitated CPAC’s Strategic Planning and Racial Equity framework (REVAT) process which was completed in September of 2023. The approach centered on facilitating a Steering Committee composed of seven community partner leads and CPAC’s Staff Coordinator. The Steering Committee included policymakers, nonprofit leadership, childcare providers, and diverse representation of families including Black Indigenous People of Color and special education. The committee was tasked with laying the foundation through the design of a racial equity values framework to function as the anchor for decision-making during the plan’s development and for all future decisions around CPAC policies and practices. The consulting team also facilitated an assessment of San Francisco providers and engaged the broader CPAC membership through multiple touchpoints to ensure inclusion of voices was integrated throughout the process.

LEADERSHIP CULTURE ASSESSMENT & RACIAL EQUITY FACILITATION - NORTHWEST JUSTICE PROJECT | 2021-2022 |

AV Consulting worked with the leadership team of Washington state’s largest legal aid and advocacy organization to facilitate a series of dialogues to identify critical pain points in the organization’s leadership culture and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) efforts. The process involved facilitating a two-day retreat with NJPs Executive Management team integrating content informed by a staff survey that assessed and recommended a restructure of decision-making processes, internal communication strategies, workload management and professional development pathways for lower-level staff and managers. In addition, AV Consulting facilitated a series of meetings with NJPs Black Indigenous People of Color managers to develop the team’s purpose statement, values, decision-making structure and advocacy priorities.

RACIAL EQUITY AUDIT - ARTIST TRUST | 2021 |

AV Consulting conducted an organizational racial equity audit in response to a request from Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) artists, community partners, and the broader artist community as a follow-up to a past leadership decision that had generated significant harm and mistrust in Artist Trust, its staff, and board. The audit included a review of select organizational governance and program-facing documents, financial policies, and protocols. The process included the design of an artist-centric and led cohort which also included staff and board representatives to examine and revise AT’s values by incorporating race-specific language. In addition, the audit included facilitation of board and committee conversations to explore experiences of bias and address power dynamics between the board, staff, and the artist community.

RACIAL EQUITY FACILITATOR - LIFEWIRE | 2019 - 2020 |

LifeWire is a domestic violence organization in East King County. AV Consulting conducted an agency-wide racial equity assessment to identify areas of training and coaching in response to staff needs. Analysis of findings resulted in facilitated staff race cohorts to develop racial equity values and an analysis tool for leadership and staff to apply in the development of future policies and work plans. AV Consulting also worked with a board subcommittee to review its board bylaws, applications, and recruitment strategy applying a racial equity lens.

GRANTEE PROGRAM EVALUATION | PUBLIC HEALTH - SEATTLE & KING COUNTY - HEALTHY EATING ACTIVE LIVING PROGRAM (HEAL) | 2022 |

Since 2016, AV Consulting In 2022, the HEAL program began preparation for the development of a post-pandemic 3-year strategic plan for its SNAP-Ed grant, which focuses on improvements to accessing healthy, affordable foods and safe places to be physically active. AV Consulting designed and facilitated a community engagement strategy to evaluate the HEAL program’s effectiveness as a coalition convener, capacity-building advocate, and resource connector. Grounded in elevating those most often left off decision-making processes, our team proposed an innovative approach that combined the celebration of grassroots community success stories through digital art with information gathering to help inform HEAL’s strategic plan. We collaborated with the HEAL team to identify community partners with an emphasis on community-based organizations working primarily with BIPOC and immigrant and refugee communities. To inform the final recommendations, the consulting team completed a series of one-one and small group interviews plus two multilingual/multicultural listening sessions with over 50 participants across King County.  

MULTICULTURAL ENGAGEMENT

AV Consulting's multicultural engagement strategies help organizations connect with diverse communities in meaningful and culturally relevant ways. Our approach focuses on co-creation, empowering multilingual and multicultural communities to actively participate in shaping projects and initiatives. Through our work, we facilitate engagement efforts that prioritize inclusivity, increase access to resources, and elevate the voices of underrepresented communities to drive impactful outcomes.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT DESIGN AND FACILITATION - CITY OF KENT | 2021 |

AV Consulting facilitated public engagement efforts to inform the initial phases of the City’s racial equity plan. The process included the development of public engagement tools including electronic surveys, focus group questions, community partner interview tools, and community questionnaires that were adaptable to meet the needs of the City of Kent’s Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), immigrant and refugee, youth, and senior communities. Our team partnered with community leaders to facilitate focus groups in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Kurdish, as well as a youth-centered focus group, and conducted interviews with local community-based organizations serving BIPOC stakeholders. Upon completion of the engagement period, AV Consulting facilitated 4 community conversations to vet data collection findings and provide linkages for City staff with community leaders. Going beyond the expectations of the contract, our team developed a preliminary roadmap for a co-creation approach for the City’s Racial Equity Manager to explore with the Mayor and City Council for 2022 implementation.

MULTICULTURAL ENGAGEMENT & RACIAL EQUITY FACILITATION - PORT OF SEATTLE | 2019 – 2022 |

The Port of Seattle’s South King County Fund designated 10 million dollars to be distributed over five years starting in 2020, to provide near-airport communities resources and support related to environmental health and sustainability. AV Consulting facilitated engagement efforts with community-based organizations and leaders representing ethnic and language groups in South King County. Participants guided through a process to engage their communities in brainstorming project ideas and gathering feedback to inform an equitable fund-making process to create an accessible application and process that elevates and prioritizes funding for multicultural communities. "The Environmental Grants Program revolutionized how the Port works with communities to improve access to funding opportunities. The Port worked with a group of multicultural, multilingual liaisons to identify and remove barriers to participation by co-creating grant materials and training liaisons to conduct community outreach to promote the grant opportunity."

MULTICULTURAL ENGAGEMENT FACILITATOR - CITY OF SEATTLE | SUGAR BEVERAGE TAX INITIATIVE | 2019 – 2020 |

AV Consulting designed and facilitated community engagement efforts, data analysis and program recommendations on behalf of multicultural and multilingual communities residing in the City of Seattle for the purposes of informing funding decisions for the Sugary Beverage Tax (SBT). The SBT Community Advisory Board (CAB) contracted with AV Consulting to identify, recruit and coordinate engagement efforts with Community-Based Organizations and community liaisons serving target priority communities. AV Consulting was responsible for developing a compensation model for CBO and liaison participation, Under AV Consulting’s direction, CBOs and liaisons conducted 16 focus groups and over 350 surveys. AV Consulting transcribed and analyzed the data and provided a summary of findings report with next steps recommendations. Since 2016, AV Consulting In 2022, the HEAL program began preparation for the development of a post-pandemic 3-year strategic plan for its SNAP-Ed grant, which focuses on improvements to accessing healthy, affordable foods and safe places to be physically active. AV Consulting designed and facilitated a community engagement strategy to evaluate the HEAL program’s effectiveness as a coalition convener, capacity-building advocate, and resource connector. Grounded in elevating those most often left off decision-making processes, AV Consulting proposed an innovative approach that combined the celebration of grassroots community success stories through digital art with information gathering to help inform HEAL’s strategic plan. The AV Consulting team collaborated with the HEAL team to identify community partners with an emphasis on community-based organizations working primarily with BIPOC and immigrant and refugee communities. To inform the final recommendations, the consulting team completed a series of one-one and small group interviews plus two multilingual/multicultural listening sessions with over 50 participants across King County.  

FACILITATOR - CITY OF SEATTLE | ZERO CITIES CARBON REDUCTION INITIATIVE | 2018 – 2020 |

The Zero Cities – Seattle project was a community-driven approach where a workgroup composed of representatives from community-based organizations serving low-income and immigrant and refugee populations were tasked with developing a set of policy and program recommendations to the City of Seattle’s environmental justice committee to address disparities resulting from initiatives tied to their 2050 carbon reduction goals. AV Consulting was hired by national partners Movement Strategy & Race Forward to design and facilitate a human-centered design approach to elevate the voices of those most negatively impacted by systemic environmental justice barriers. This year and half process involved monthly meetings and the facilitation of a small guiding team resulting in a summary report of local barriers, education opportunities and, new policy recommendations.

MULTI-CULTURAL RESEARCH PROJECT | KING COUNTY SOLID WASTE DIVISION | 2016-2019 |

AV Consulting was tasked with designing, implementing, and evaluating an informational investigation working with King County’s residential multi-cultural communities. The contract included evaluating past projects to identify gaps, make recommendations, execute additional data gathering efforts, and work with department leads to improve communication and establish a framework aimed at the elimination of inefficiencies and duplication of programs and services.  The project resulted in the development of a community-driven, community advocate model to aid the division in improving stakeholder engagement with multi-cultural populations.  In addition, AV Consulting facilitated a staff engagement process and coaching model aimed at improving recruitment and retention of staff of color. 

EQUITY & PARENT ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR | READY WASHINGTON | 2015-PRESENT |

Since 2015, AV Consulting has partnered with Ready Washington, a statewide coalition composed of businesses, policy makers and community-based organizations, to design and execute strategies and projects to improve the coalition’s ability to better engagement parents of multi-cultural and multi-lingual communities to support student success.  Projects designed by AV Consulting have include facilitating statewide multilingual parent workshops on the Smarter Balanced Assessments and the High School & Beyond Plan, and the development of a series of one-pagers utilizing a parent-driven transcreation process to share very complex resources for parents around topics such as science, math and state assessments in a culturally relevant way.