On July 21, 2020, the County of Los Angeles (County) Board of Supervisors established the County’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative to address generational inequality and systemic racism. This initiative was further amended on April 6, 2021, to include additional communities impacted throughout the County.
The ARDI initiative brings together 180 department leaders, executive team leads, and equity action team members from 35 plus County departments and related commissions, advisory bodies, and public agencies to continue to build upon previous efforts, develop new Board initiatives, and create County workforce training efforts.
The Department has committed five team members to the four ARDI workgroups: Culture and Climate; Narrative and Communications; Planning and Data; and Stakeholder Engagement. Through these established workgroups, team members will provide input and actively participate on behalf of the Department and ensure overall success at our workplace and Countywide.
The initial efforts on the workgroups have focused on reviewing and analyzing existing policies, procedures, and practices, so they may be updated and examined through a lens of equity. Moreover, ARDI has conducted anti-racism and Race Equity Tool trainings that will eventually make their ways to our entire County workforce. Eventually, ARDI will have far-reaching and lasting influence as the adopted policies, procedures, and practices will heavily impact residents in 88 incorporated cities, 80 school districts, and 120 unincorporated areas of the County as well as community-based organizations, faith-based, philanthropic, and academic institutions.
Over the past five years, the Fire Department has committed to the development and growth of various programs that promote diversity and inclusivity and are in lockstep with the ARDI initiative. As the ARDI Initiative progresses, the Fire Department will continue positive engagement and share updates in future communiqués or via Size-Up.
If you have any questions regarding the ARDI initiative, please contact Andrea D. Avila, Community Outreach, Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion Section Chief, at (323) 881-3056.
