Equity Arcata
Creating a Welcoming, Safe, and Racially Equitable Community
Purpose and Vision Statement
Equity Arcata is a formal partnership between Cal Poly Humboldt and the City of Arcata to provide a welcoming, safe, inclusive, and racially equitable community for students, faculty, staff, and all communities throughout the City of Arcata, Cal Poly Humboldt, and surrounding communities. The City Manager's Office serves as the lead City organization (and fiscal agent), and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion serves as the lead University organization (and fiscal agent) in carrying out the day-to-day work of Equity Arcata. All duties and responsibilities lie within this partnership.
Equity Arcata Program Responsibilities
Equity Arcata prioritizes transparent and meaningful engagement with the community, particularly underrepresented groups, to ensure their voices are central to program direction, development, and implementation. Equity Arcata will strive to bring people together and support communication in our community to advance the purpose of our organization.
Key duties include:
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Develop events and activities that promote Arcata as a welcoming, safe, and racially equitable community for all.
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Foster relationships between city and university operations.
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Convening community members and organizations to dialogue, celebrate, and organize for community belonging.
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Facilitate professional development opportunities to support all members of our community.
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Develop sustainable financial growth for Equity Arcata initiatives.
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Authority and Scope
Equity Arcata operates under the authority of the City of Arcata and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal Poly Humboldt. These entities make up Equity Arcata, which collaborates with all city and university departments to develop and implement Equity Arcata initiatives. Equity Arcata operates on a collective impact model—bringing together diverse stakeholders to share responsibility for advancing equity across the region.
Our Vision
We envision an Arcata where historically excluded residents and students feel they belong and have access to the resources they need to thrive. We believe our community is stronger and more vibrant because of its growing racial diversity, and we are dedicated to ensuring that every individual can define and achieve their own success.
What We Do
Equity Arcata supports equity through three main approaches:
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Resource Allocation - equity initiatives and community projects.
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Connect & Bridge partner organizations to strengthen collaboration.
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Assemble and Communicate with community members to listen, respond, and adapt.
This work includes:
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Organizational and cultural event support
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Equity workshops and trainings
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Internships and fellowships
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Local business connections
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Sponsorship of community events
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Ongoing learning opportunities (book clubs and modules)
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Home Away From Home program, which has provided meals and supplies to 1,500+ students
We also emphasize evidence-based impact by moving toward data-informed methods, and we seek to sustain Equity Arcata as a long-term organization that does not rely solely on volunteers.
Ongoing Commitment
Equity Arcata remains flexible and responsive to the evolving needs of students, residents, and non-student community members. We adapt our goals and actions to ensure that Arcata continues to be a place where care, belonging, and equity are at the center of community life.