Local leaders mark 1 year since release of Racial and Structural Equity report

Patrick Moussignac

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Local leaders Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the Racial and Structural Equity (RASE) report. It put forth hundreds of recommendations aimed at tearing down structural inequities in the City of Rochester and Monroe County.

RELATED: RASE commission releases new report, focuses on racism and ‘structural inequities’

News10NBC took a very quick look at what the Commission has implemented so far, and where it’s headed.

The RASE Commission released its first progress report which focuses on everything from business development, education, and health care to name a few here in both the city, and county.

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said the city has invested $76 million based on the Commission’s recommendations. Evans said one major example of what some of the money was used for, includes increasing the hourly minimum wage for all city employees to $15 an hour.

On the county level, Executive Director Adam Bello says these recommendations have become a top priority such as creating an Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The county also hired its first DENI Director.

[News10NBC]

"The point of the RASE Commission was to take these recommendations as a roadmap, and a guidepost to implement and make real change in our community," Bello said.

Evans added, "I am anxious to continue our work at the city as we dig deeper to eliminate systemically racist policies, and practices. I also look forward to expanding community involvement in this project as I said. The recommendations were created by the community. We need the entire community to step up and be a part of the implementation team, and I think they’re interested in it."

Moving forward, Evans said Dr. Seanelle Hawkins from the Urban League of Greater Rochester will now lead the community-wide implementation of RASE recommendations. You can also participate in this process here.