Support Community Engagement in Agency Equity Action Plans (US0122)

As part of Executive Order 13985, Federal agencies were called upon to develop and implement equity action plans. These plans summarize the obstacles that underserved communities face in accessing Federal Government benefits, services, and contracting oppor- tunities. The action plans also detail affirmative steps that agencies are taking to address those barriers. Many agencies are committing to new ways of engaging with the public in these plans. Importantly, these action plans include efforts that go beyond passive collection of public input to propose more proactive community engage- ment across all agency functions. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy have announced a new joint grant initiative—the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers Program—that will provide funding to non-profit organizations to support communities in building capacity to address environmental justice concerns, including by facilitating local community engagement with the Federal Government. For its part, the U.S. Department of Transportation has forecasted a 2023 grant opportunity for place-based initiatives jointly co-designed with communities most impacted by poor transportation access and climate change. The U.S. Department of Energy also committed up to $102 million in funding and support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions as foundations for world- class talent in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has committed to developing an agency-wide Community Engagement Plan that will include best prac- tices for public outreach across agency functions designed to ensure equity in policy and program delivery ac- tivities. The U.S. Department of Labor has committed to developing new partnerships with community-based organizations to improve awareness of, and compliance with, Federal wage and hour protections for vulnerable, low-paid workers most at risk of violations. In May 2022, the Associate Attorney General issued a Comprehen- sive Environmental Justice Enforcement Strategy for the Department of Justice, urging Department personnel to host and participate in community listening sessions, and to develop case-specific community outreach plans. And the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has committed to increased engagement with non-traditional lenders, including community-based institutions, to better reach underserved communi- ties as part of a broader effort to eliminate the racial homeownership gap. The Federal Government commits to supporting agencies as they pursue additional community engagement efforts as part of implementation of their equity action plans.