The Washington Race Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) seeks to coordinate and grow a sustainable statewide community of legal and justice system partners and stakeholders who can work together to eradicate racially biased policies, practices, and systems.
REJI visualizes a just society that respects basic human rights and allows all members to thrive and reach their potential. We envision a community free from bias and systemic oppression, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. This includes access to safe and stable housing, quality education and healthcare, a legal system that delivers justice to all, a sustainable source of income, ample and nutritious food, clean water, and freedom from environmental hazards.
The Initiative’s primary goal is to develop resources, tools, and infrastructure to support a highly collaborative, integrated and coordinated race equity & justice network statewide that can:
- Share information and best practices that advance individual and organizational learning around race equity and structural racialization;
- Identify actions and strategies that can transcend traditional divisions between the civil, criminal, and juvenile justice systems, promote race equity, and eliminate structurally racialized systems and practices; and
- Build meaningful community partnerships to ensure that communities who are most affected by poverty and racial inequities are participatory in policies, actions, and decisions that may impact them.
REJI partners with JustLead Washington, a nonprofit established to support and grow the network of legal and community leaders working toward equity & justice in Washington State. JustLead provides staffing and coordination for the REJI network and helps carry out the race equity-related training, consulting, resource development, and other priority work identified by REJI Partners. For more information please visit www.justleadwa.org.
Washington Race Equity & Justice Initiative 