In recent years, residents in Los Angeles County and nationwide have become increasingly aware of the systemic inequities and racist structures that produce unfair disadvantages to people of color. In July 2020, a unanimous Board of Supervisors adopted the anti-racist policy agenda motion, calling it “an overdue response and an opportunity for meaningful change.” Anti-racism is the “active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies and practices and attitudes, so that power and resources are redistributed and shared equitably.”  It will no longer suffice to merely support diversity and inclusion initiatives. As stated in the motion, recognition and support are essential, but the County “must focus on the actions and outcomes that will produce a fundamental systemic change to set the national standard and become a leader of anti-racism policy making and program implementation.”

This seminar will closely examine the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative. All departments in the County are now engaged in developing ARDI equity action plans, and managers at every level need the tools to respond to questions and immerse themselves into larger efforts. This seminar will also delve into some practical ways that programming and services have been aligned to support ARDI from the perspective of a County department.

Participants will: 

• Learn about the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative to ignite the creation of programs and services through the lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion.  

• Build the skills to have meaningful and appropriate conversations at any level of the organization regarding ARDI. 

• Discover practical strategies from LA County Library as it currently works to reimagine its award-winning iCount equity initiative to align with ARDI. 

• Examine how LA County Library is engaging and training staff, thinking through challenges that arise, and exploring options for their next steps. 

• Receive tools and information to help you coalesce ARDI efforts.

Speakers: 

Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza

Executive Director, Racial Equity, Anti-Racism, Diversity, Inclusion (ARDI)

Chief Executive Office (CEO) 

Dr. D’Artagnan Scorza currently serves as the inaugural Executive Director of Racial Equity for Los Angeles County. In this capacity, he is tasked with championing the elimination of structural racism while also promoting efforts to deepen the County's work on diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

Dr. Scorza’s life’s work is centered on building leaders who fight for equity in communities and schools. In his previous roles as the Executive Director of Social Justice Learning Institute, a University of California (UC) Regent. and the President of the Board of Education for the Inglewood Unified School District, he launched programs that helped youth of color become social justice leaders and college graduates. He also helped pass policies that prioritized $160 million for student services across UC campuses and secured $350 million to support school construction for k-12 schools.  

As a U.S. Navy Iraq-War Veteran and civic leader, he has received numerous awards and accolades, including being recognized as one of the 40 Emerging Civic Leaders under 40 in 2018 and received the UCLA Recent Graduate Achievement Award in 2016.  

Dr. Scorza has been quoted in multiple publications, such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Magazine and several podcasts. 

Deborah Anderson 

Assistant Director, Education and Engagement 

LA County Library 

Deborah Anderson is the Assistant Director, Education and Engagement for LA County Library, where she oversees in-person and digital programming and external outreach. In addition, she leads the Library’s equity initiative, iCount. 

A seasoned library executive, Ms. Anderson has worked for LA County Library for 26 years holding multiple positions throughout her tenure including serving as a children’s librarian, library branch manager, Teen Services Coordinator, Youth Services Administrator and now Assistant Director.
 

iCount video

My Brothers Keeper video

Cultural Competency

Registration Information

Registration is required via the LACMC webpage: 

Click the blue Registration buttons at the top or bottom of this page.

Reminder: ONLY LACMC MEMBERS MAY REGISTER FOR THIS TRAINING.

To find out about other LACMC educational opportunities and more, check out our website at managementcouncil.lacounty.gov. If you have a colleague interested in becoming a LACMC member, please refer them to the LACMC website for eligibility requirements, membership benefits, and the application: (click here).

Cost:Free

Once registered, a direct link to the seminar will be emailed to you. Please contact the seminar hosts if you do NOT receive the automated seminar email with meeting details after registration.

Seminar Questions? Nicole White-Gamble via email at ngamble@assessor.lacounty.gov, Sarah Rivanis via email at srivanis@hr.lacounty.gov, or Arpi Zadoorian at azadoorian@library.lacounty.gov. 

“Disclaimer – The Los Angeles County Management Council invites speakers to share their knowledge with the membership; however, LACMC is in no way endorsing the individuals or the companies presenting information at our seminars.”