Welcome to the Race
and Social Justice
Initiative Summit
and to the virtual
celebration of Martin
Luther King Unity
day. I'm Mayor Bruce
Harrell, and I'm
so excited to be
with you as the
work you are embarking
on is crucial for
ensuring Seattle is
truly able to live
up to our ideal
values and serve
as a beacon for
the nation. Unity
and togetherness
are center to my
approach as a leader
and center to the
values of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.
in achieving opportunity,
justice, progress,
and fairness At
its core, this means
a belief in the
best of one another,
you, me and in all
of us to approach
each other with
an open mind, and
an open heart to
listen to share.
And to activate.
I want you to think
for the moment about
the power of listening,
which is the foundation
of understanding.
I believe so strongly
in Dr. King's words:
"Darkness cannot
drive out darkness,
only light can do
that. Hate cannot
drive out hate.
Only love can do
that." So the only
way I know how to
lead is with love
and with compassion.
I will bring that
attitude to my work
every single day
and I hope you'll
consider it at least
bringing it to yours.
It works for me.
Similarly, the Race
and Social Justice
Initiative, and
its goals are near
and dear to my heart.
Something I'm passionate
about strengthening
and uplifting. For
years I was the
only person of color
on the Seattle City
Council. And throughout
my time there I
worked hard to respond
to the needs of
communities of color
and tried every
day to bring a race
and social justice
lens to my work:
Leading on legislation
like Ban the Box,
bias-free policing,
raising the minimum
wage, the Great
Student Initiative and
and more. I was
the sole sponsor
of the Race and
Social Justice Initiative
on Council because
I knew from experience
that we couldn't
take for granted
representation. Nor
the kind of nuanced
conversation and
real outreach needed
to ensure Seattle's
policies were truly
built with a race
and social justice
focus. So now, while
I'm thrilled to
serve alongside
a diverse city council
and our first Indigenous
Council President
as Seattle's first
Asian, and first
biracial, and second
black mayor, I actually
believe this initiative
is more important
than ever. Last
year on the campaign
trail, I was consistently
impressed with how
frequently the 15
candidates in total
running for mayor
would reaffirm their
commitment to this
initiative. But
the truth is, we
have to go even
further. More than
ever, if we want
to see real change,
we need to come
together, to listen
to one another,
to elevate the voices
of those too often
not heard. I am
so excited to work
with all of you. I
don't come to the
table knowing all
of the answers or
with a fixed mind,
I, I come to hear
you, to build together
and to rise together,
and to emphasize
effective collaboration
above all else.
My vision for our
city, across departments,
programs, and policies
is to lead with
equity. Not just
talk about equity,
not to nibble around
the edges on equity,
but to take real,
substantive action
that drives equity
for our communities.
I talk about operationalizing
equity. That's why
I've appointed a
Chief Equity Officer,
who will work to
further drive this
conversation and
ensure real change,
especially in key
departments like
Transportation and Parks
as examples. Further,
it's why I've pushed
for a Race and Data
Initiative to help
quantify and visualize
the issues we're
discussing from
housing and transportation
access, to public
safety impacts and
public safety reform,
health outcomes
and climate effects.
With this work,
those on the outside
can better see the
challenge, and affected
and underrepresented
communities can
see progress and
hold us accountable.
Finally, this is
why I will issue
an Executive Order
in support of the
Race and Social
Justice Initiative.
We must ensure this
lens is top of mind
and top priority
for our departments
and directors. So
with that said,
I thank you for
your willingness
to dive into this
incredibly hard
work. Now, the issues
in front of us are
not easy. They never
have been. They
can be burdensome,
taxing and even
exhausting. We understand
this. But progress
that comes out of
this work is well
worth the sacrifice
for our neighbors,
for our communities,
for our city. I
believe working
together we can
make a difference
and from my heart
I would like to
thank you.