Skip to main content
Content current as of 04/21/25

Equity and Human Rights

The Office of Equity and Human Rights (OEHR) acts as a resource to support the City of Tacoma in becoming an equitable and anti-racist organization. OEHR assists departments with guidance, research, training, and consultation to incorporate racial and other equity principles into all programs, policies, practices, and procedures to close racial and other disparity trends in the community. 

While the work of improving the lives of residents across the City has been happening for generations, Tacoma City Council began formalizing the City’s approach to addressing inequities in 2014 with Resolution 39019 , adopting the City’s Equity and Empowerment Framework. In 2020, the City Council built on this framework in adopting Resolution 40622. To support this work, Council passed Ordinance 28866, codifying Office of Equity and Human Rights (OEHR) and outlining the equity-related responsibilities of the City Manager.   

In 2014, Tacoma’s City Council adopted Resolution 39019, a resolution adopting an Equity and Empowerment framework. This framework directed the City to advance the following objectives: 

  • The City of Tacoma workforce reflects the community it serves.
  • Purposeful community outreach and engagement.
  • Equitable service delivery to all residents and visitors.
  • Support human rights and opportunities for everyone to achieve their full potential.
  • Commitment to equity in policy decision making.

Anti-Racist Systems Transformation and Resolution 40622  

In 2020, Resolution 40622 was passed by the Tacoma City Council, affirming the City Council’s dedication and commitment to comprehensive and sustained transformation of all of the institutions, systems, policies, practices, and contracts impacted by systemic racism, with initial priority being given to policing in the City of Tacoma. 

Codifying Office of Equity and Human Rights (OEHR) 

In 2014, the City established the Office of Equity and Human Rights, which was codified into the Tacoma Municipal Code with Ordinance 28866 in 2022. This ordinance recognizes that the City Manager’s internal Office of Equity and Human Rights has been a leader in the City of Tacoma’s transformation efforts, and codifies the City’s Office of Equity and Human Rights as well as the responsibilities of the City Manager as follows to ensure continuation of this work in the years to come: 

  • The City Manager shall develop policies, practices and strategic investments to reverse racial disparity trends in the community and eliminate institutional racism at the City of Tacoma to ensure that outcomes and opportunities for all people are no longer predicable by race. 
  • The City Manager shall ensure all City of Tacoma departments and offices incorporate racial equity principles in all aspects of strategic planning and budgetary planning. 
  • The City Manager shall provide to the City Council, on at least an annual basis, a formal report on progress made to advance equity, including progress made on City of Tacoma racial equity action planning, contracting and workforce diversity goals, and any other goals as determined by the City Council that impact the racial equity framework. 

Meet the Director of Equity, Strategy, and Human Rights

Photo of Jacques Colon
Director of Equity, Strategy, and Human Rights

Jacques Colon

Jacques Colon serves as the Director of Equity, Strategy, and Human Rights, where he leads the Office of Equity and Human Rights and the Office of Strategy. In this role, Jacques is responsible for overseeing the equity work of the City, as well as supporting organizational and cross-departmental strategic planning for the City of Tacoma. Prior to serving at the City of Tacoma, Jacques served as the Health Equity Coordinator for the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Policy Analyst for the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and as a middle school science teacher with Teach for America. 

Email

Tacoma's Equity Index 

The Equity Index is a data-driven tool to see where projects, policies, programs or services can have the largest impact on addressing inequity and where investment can provide the biggest improvement in factors that impact life outcomes. It is a significant part of our strategy to connect transform to an antiracist city.
Equity Index