Facilitation of Public Meetings or Events

General work description: In response to community outcry regarding racial justice in response to national and local events, the Board of Commissioners is convening a series of community listening sessions. These will provide an open forum for community members to share with the Board members their concerns, their fears and their frustrations. On the heels of that series of meetings will be the second annual Community Investment Conversation (formerly the Budget Listening Tour). This will be a 4-meeting series that will provide the community an opportunity to better understand how the county invests the public dollar and move through exercises and conversations about their priorities. Finally, In May 2020 voters passed the Metro Supportive Housing Services Ballot Measure which approved a tax to fund services to meet the needs of a growing homeless population. The submittal of a Local Implementation Plan is required for approval by the Metro Council. Equity and community engagement are important components of Washington County’s implementation plan. Strategies will be incorporated in the plan to advance racial equity outcomes, engage communities of color and historically marginalized communities.