DEI Strategic Plan Project

We are committed to fostering a more inclusive San Luis Obispo, where every resident feels valued and heard. We are developing the City of San Luis Obispo’s first ever DEI Strategic Plan, the success of which relies heavily on community involvement. Inclusivity is not just a goal; it's a journey. This strategic plan will serve as our roadmap.

Our Approach

Project Overview

The City of San Luis Obispo embarked on a project to develop the City’s first DEI Strategic Plan that will serve as a roadmap for DEI strategies, activities, and initiatives for the City over the next five years.

The City is committed to creating a future that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion while honoring its rich history and core values. Our core values are rooted in inclusivity, and this plan aims to make our community more welcoming, equitable, and accessible to everyone.

DEI work is important because it helps create a community where everyone feels valued, safe, and included. This plan is designed to break down barriers, eliminate discrimination, and foster and environment where all residents and visitors thrive.

Project Goals

DEISP Executive Summary

DEISP Report in Brief

DEISP Timeline (Development, implementation, & reporting)

September & October 2023: Survey, community engagement, and data collection.

November 2023: Data analysis and plan development

December 2023: Plan development and editing.

January 2024: Final editing and staff report development for City Council

February 2024: DEISP presentation and Council adoption

February 2025: DEISP Implementation Matrix Report & Presentation to Council

February 2026: DEISP Implementation Matrix Report & Presentation to Council

February 2027: DEISP Implementation Matrix Report & Presentation to Council

February 2028: DEISP Implementation Matrix Report & Presentation to Council

DEI Framework

Major Pillars

The City's DEI Strategic Plan is being built using several major pillars designed to address four areas of focus. The major pillars are broad themes that underpin the overall strategy. The pillars are streamlines and refined to four areas:

Diverse Community Engagement and Representation:
Cultivating equitable pathways for expanded community partnerships rooted in diverse representation in City processes, services, and community initiatives aimed at fostering systemic change and increased public awareness.

Equitable Communication and Accessibility:
Developing equitable communication strategies to create inclusive and accessible engagement in city programs and services that increases the participation for underserved communities and reinforces the City’s commitment to DEI.

Embedded Accountability and Sustainable Change:
Building strategies that operationalize the City’s commitment to DEI and allow for sustained movement and continued measurable growth towards transformational change.

Inclusive Organizational Culture and Structure:
Fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes equitable programs and policies to cultivate an environment that values, respects, and welcomes employees and community members from all backgrounds and diverse identities.

Inclusivity Strategy

Strategies for inclusion are as follow:

DEI Strategic Plan Community Wide Vision Survey: As part of the preparation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic Plan, the City of San Luis Obispo has prepared a survey and invites residents and the community at large to participate in a brief visioning survey. The information collected will help inform and guide the vision for the City's DEI efforts in the coming years.
Community Wide Workshop: The Office of DEI has identified the public participation goal as that of collaboration since the initiatives will have a direct impact to several interested communities and key community planning groups that provide services or have programs designed to provide support to underserved and underrepresented communities. The Office of DEI will maintain the community apprised about the development of the project and incorporate thoughtful recommendations that further DEI initiatives in the community.
Bilingual Virtual Community Workshop: As identified above, as series of activities directed to outreach and feedback from various diverse communities is key to the development of the DEI Strategic Plan. Expanding ways of communication through an action plan that is culturally and linguistically appropriate is key to successful engagement. This includes making surveys equally accessible in English and Spanish, making virtual sessions available after regular work hours, and with bilingual capacity, and promoting information in English and Spanish via social media channels.

Community feedback is critical to inform and guide the City’s first DEI Strategic Plan and the efforts that will make the entire community a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and diverse communities where all individuals can thrive.

Transparency

The project keeps transparency by:

Following the DEI Task Force recommendations: The DEI Task Force provided recommendations that outlined the many needs of the community as they were first presented. The recommendations were adopted by City Council, and it informed the first two years of the DEI as a Major City Goal and it reflects directly the community’s needs.
Community Workshop Sessions: Community engagement sessions will allow for community participation and clear communication on the development of the DEI Strategic Plan and its content. This will help refine the plan with meaningful initiatives that speak directly to diverse communities’ needs and proper applications.

To access the DEI Strategic Plan in English please click HERE.

Para acceder al Plan Estratégico de DEI por favor acceda AQUÍ.

Additional Resources

DEI Task Force Information

DEI Task Force Recommendation Report

City of San Luis Obispo, CA

FIND A SERVICE

I WANT TO...

Our Approach

Major Pillars

Additional Resources