Mayor Eric Garcetti today called for affirmative action in the City government and signed an executive directive to study and promote racial equity in City departments.

Even as she continues in her role as Deputy Mayor for Economic Opportunity, Brenda will helm the City’s work to bring the Racial Equity Action Plans to life, coordinate with different departments, lift up the efforts of the new Civil and Human Rights Commission, and ensure equity remains a key prism for our programs and policies.

“I am honored to serve as the City’s first Chief Equity Officer, and I welcome the opportunity to continue to fight for racial equity and against injustice,” said Deputy Mayor Shockley.

“Our city is hungry for change, and we must knit racial justice and affirmative action into the fabric of our policies, our institutions, and our society,” said Mayor Garcetti.

Joined by many Black City commissioners for the announcement, Mayor Garcetti is calling in his executive directive for each City department and office to appoint racial equity officers, develop a Racial Equity Action Plan to review pertinent departmental functions and identify efforts to promote racial equity in our local government.