HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5a. Selection of DEI High Impact Grant Review Subcommittee Item 5a
Human Relations Commission
Agenda Report
For Agenda of: 7/10/2024
Item Number: 5a
FROM: Nestor Veloz-Passalacqua, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager
Phone Number: (805) 781-7073
E-mail: nveloz@slocity.org
SUBJECT: SELECTION OF THE DEI HIGH IMPACT GRANT REVIEW
SUBCOMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION
Select up to three (3) Commissioners to participate in a subcommittee to review
applications for the DEI High Impact Grant and provide preliminary funding
recommendations to the entire Human Relations Commission.
BACKGROUND
The Human Relations Commission (HRC) is tasked with reviewing the DEI High Impact
Grant applications and providing funding recommendations to Council for consideration.
To ensure a comprehensive and equitable recommendation, a subcommittee from the
HRC is formed to review and discuss each application before the entire HRC votes for a
final recommendation to the City Council.
The DEI High Impact Grant provides financial support to non-profit organizations to
enhance the sense of belonging for all people in the San Luis Obispo community. This
funding allocation is an effort to uplift and support local projects, programs, and initiatives
that contribute to creating a San Luis Obispo that is welcoming, inclusive, equitable, and
safe.
The scope of inclusion and equity work is inherently broad and complex, and the funding
seeks to support initiatives that show understanding of “root causes” issue s and
“intractable” problems seeking to address structural and systemic inequities, can
demonstrate measurable success, and will contribute to some aspect of systemic change.
Funding should primarily focus on advancing and implementing diversity, equity, and
inclusion through innovative practices that seek to narrow equity gaps and address
intractable, systemic, and structural issues. Eligible projects may include a one -time
service with long-lasting impacts.
DEI High Impact funds can be used for innovative, new or existing projects, initiatives,
and ongoing programs to advance 1) diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and/or 2)
to reduce equity gaps and improve social justice initiatives for underserved and
Page 13 of 19
Item 5a
underrepresented communities in the City of San Luis Obispo.
Proposals may focus on specific underserved and underrepresented communities, but all
projects, applications, and concepts must provide access to the entire City of San Luis
Obispo community-at-large and contribute to a positive systemic/structural change.
NEXT STEPS
Commissioners select three (3) members to be on the subcommittee, who will select
dates for the subcommittee to meet for the review process.
Page 14 of 19