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FY22 Equity, Diversity, and Economic Mobility Priorities

The City aims to ensure that every resident can reach their full potential regardless of their background, and to remove the barriers that hinder Bostonians from having access to opportunities.

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In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is committed to launching new initiatives and expanding existing programs that promote recovery and help elevate all residents.

Equity and Inclusion Cabinet

The FY22 budget includes the new Equity and Inclusion Cabinet, created to embed equity and racial justice into all City planning, operations, and services. The Cabinet is composed of the following departments:

  • Office of Equity
  • Human Rights Commission 
  • Language and Communications Access 
  • Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Advancement
  • Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Racial Equity 
  • Office of Diversity 
  • Women’s Advancement 

Drawings in different languages about belonging

Facilitating COVID-19 Recovery

The FY22 budget includes investments that will help Boston move forward from COVID-19 stronger and more resilient, including funding to support small businesses, professionals, and young people.

ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR ALL
  • Pilot an internship program to support Boston’s foreign-trained professionals in COVID-19 recovery sectors
  • Expand capacity for the Immigrants Lead Boston program, previously piloted in FY21
  • Increase support for immigrant fellowships during the summer Youth Engagement & Employment program
  • Fund a Career Counselor Librarian pilot program for East Boston, Mattapan, and Roxbury
SUPPORTS FOR WOmEN AND CHILDCARE BUSINESSES
  • Invest $250,000 in the Boston Childcare Entrepreneur Fund (CEF) and increase program management capacity to serve over 100 small, Boston-based childcare providers in FY22
  • Pilot salary negotiation trainings aimed at supporting lower wage workers
  • Engage with the private sector on employer-focused strategies to close the wage gap

Ensuring Equity and Accessibility

To continue moving the needle on equity and accessibility for all, the City will fund investments that strengthen City services and support communities in need.

People holding flags representing different countries

SUPPORTING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
  • Provide $378,000 in increased supports for immigrants, including funding for the Immigrant Defense Fund, legal assistance for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants, and English classes for speakers of other languages (ESOL programming) 
  • Invest $100,000 in the Human Rights Commission for anti-discrimination support
  • Support My Brother’s Keeper Boston with an additional $100,000 for programming
  • Bolster the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Racial Equity with a $40,000 investment in community engagement efforts
MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK FOR ALL RESIDENTS
  • Provide $1.3 million to roll out Racial Equity and Leadership training across City departments
  • Establish a participatory budgeting program to increase constituent involvement in the budget process
  • Enhance Language and Communications Access services with an additional $300,000 for interpretation, translation of the City’s vital documents, and translation of outreach materials for citywide events
  • Study broadband options through the Department of Innovation and Technology to ensure equitable Internet access across the City

Learn more about the budget

FY22 Executive Summary
FY22 Operating Budget
FY22 Capital Budget
FY22 Featured Analyses
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