CEDP Denver: Championing Economic & Racial Equity through Social Services

Role: Consultant

Industry: Statewide Social Service Provider Providing Emergency Aid and Resource Navigation

Situation:

Based in Denver, the Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP) is one of Colorado's largest social services providers, providing emergency financial aid, legal aid, and resource navigation for renters and homeowners. Our mission is to partner with low-income and working people to build economic and racial equity. We do this by providing stabilization services, confronting economic abuse, and investing in community wealth. Since 2021, CEDP has served more than 35,000 low-income Coloradans, 74% of whom identify as BIPOC or Latine, and distributed more than $150 million in emergency assistance. Our integrated support has been crucial in meeting the immediate needs of individuals and families facing housing crises, legal challenges, and other socioeconomic barriers. Our model has been recognized as a best practice model by The White House, HUD, The Urban Institute, and in the news. In addition to direct assistance and support to low income and working people, CEDP has drafted and passed transformational laws that expanded renters' rights and dramatically curtailed predatory towing. The team also worked closely with members of the legislature to pass statewide laws strengthening the rights of mobile home park residents, establishing a fair housing unit within the office of Colorado's Attorney General, holding overreaching homeowner's associations accountable, and advocating for other measures designed to protect community wealth. For more information on CEDP, check out our coverage in Colorado Public Radio, our medium post on our organization's story, or our website at cedproject.org. Scope & Objective: The objective of this engagement is to support CEDP's Racial Equity, Inclusion and Diversity efforts with baseline assessment administration and action planning. The organization needs to customize and administer an organizational racial equity assessment, and develop data summary for CEDP with recommendations and suggested next steps. Activities that may be supported include: Developing and conducting a custom assessment of our organization's current state of racial equity, inclusion and diversity, including reviewing existing policies and practices. Provide expert guidance and support in the review of assessment outcomes and the development and implementation of our resulting initiatives. Develop a set of short- and long-term recommendations to guide CEDP leadership in developing a comprehensive racial equity, inclusion and diversity strategy aligned with our organizational goals and values.

Question to Marcus:

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What tools might be useful for this project?

Stakeholder Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis is pivotal for the Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP) as it seeks to enhance its racial equity, inclusion, and diversity programs. By identifying and understanding the perspectives of all stakeholders, including beneficiaries, partners, funders, and community leaders, CEDP can tailor its strategies to address the nuanced needs and expectations of its diverse constituents.

This approach ensures that initiatives are not only inclusive but are also perceived as equitable and beneficial by those they aim to serve. Effective stakeholder analysis will guide CEDP in engaging more deeply with communities, facilitating co-created solutions, and building stronger, trust-based relationships. It will also highlight potential areas of resistance or concern that need to be addressed, ensuring that the organization's efforts are both comprehensive and culturally sensitive.

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning is crucial for CEDP to align its racial equity, inclusion, and diversity efforts with its broader organizational goals. Developing a clear, strategic plan that incorporates these values as core components of the organization’s mission will ensure that CEDP remains focused and effective in its approach.

This plan should detail specific, achievable objectives, assign responsibilities, and establish timelines, allowing CEDP to measure progress and make necessary adjustments. Furthermore, a well-crafted strategic plan will help in communicating the importance of these efforts to all stakeholders, fostering a shared commitment to achieving racial and economic equity across the organization and the communities it serves.

Change Management

Implementing racial equity, inclusion, and diversity initiatives will require significant changes within CEDP, both culturally and operationally. Effective Change Management practices are essential to navigate this transition smoothly, ensuring that all members of the organization understand, are invested in, and are equipped to contribute to these changes.

This involves clear communication, training, and support systems to address concerns and barriers to adoption. By managing this change effectively, CEDP can minimize disruption to its services and maintain staff engagement and morale, thereby setting a strong foundation for sustainable impact.

Performance Management

To ensure the effectiveness of its racial equity, inclusion, and diversity initiatives, CEDP must integrate these priorities into its Performance Management systems. This involves setting clear performance indicators related to equity and inclusion, and regularly assessing progress against these metrics.

By doing so, CEDP can hold its teams accountable, celebrate successes, and identify areas requiring further attention or different strategies. This data-driven approach will enable CEDP to continuously refine its efforts, ensuring they make a meaningful difference in the lives of the communities they serve.

Organizational Design

Rethinking the Organizational Design is a critical step for CEDP to effectively support its racial equity, inclusion, and diversity goals. This may involve creating new roles or teams dedicated to these efforts, embedding equity and inclusion responsibilities across existing roles, or reconfiguring decision-making processes to ensure diverse perspectives are included.

By designing an organization that structurally supports its equity goals, CEDP can more effectively leverage its resources and expertise to drive systemic change, both within the organization and across the communities it serves.