The report shows improvement in addressing disparities, rising from a score of 39 to 42, with a new focus on environmental justice.
DALLAS — It is no secret that disparities exist all across the nation.
“I live in a food desert. I have a lack of infrastructure in my community,” said Temeckia Derrough, a Joppa resident.
That lack is what Temeckia Derrough has been fighting in her community, Joppa, just southeast of Downtown Dallas.
“Not because no one’s living there and not because the city doesn’t know we live there, it’s because the dynamic of race is playing a part of this,” said Derrough.
She is not only a resident of Joppa but serves as the Freedmen’s town’s environmental commissioner, which drew her to this year’s Equity Indicators Symposium.
Dallas released its 2023 Equity Indicators Report which tracks and measures disparities within the city.
“A report like the equity indicators report is critical to the work of equity or closing gaps as it gives us a true depiction of what is happening in our city. Who has the greatest needs? Where do we need to be intentional either around resource allocation, policy reform, and or the ways in which we just go about delivering daily services,” said Lindsey Wilson, Dallas Officer of Equity and Inclusion Director.
In 2019, the city scored 39 out of 100. This time, they’ve increased to 42.
“We heard community and moved to action and so this report is slightly different,” said Wilson.
Past themes include economic opportunity, education, neighborhood and infrastructure, justice and government, and public health. All showed increases in scores.
The 2023 report also focuses on language access and the new theme, environmental justice.
“We heard the importance of food access, solar accessibility,” said Wilson.
Environmental screening tools such as air quality are also included in the new theme. Joppa has those monitors which Derrough said is needed.
“Their residents face bad air in their communities being surrounded by industrial companies,” said Derrough.
In South Dallas, a new Park South YMCA is in construction.
“That resource brings discount childcare for the residents,” said Derrough. “We might face disparities, but we’re overcoming them…We have to fight for our culture, where we live.”
They are exposing disparities in efforts to close gaps. To see the full 2023 Equity Indicators Report, click here.