Washington State Office of Equity

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Washington State Office of Equity

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Our goal is to change systems throughout state government to advance a Washington for All.

We are working to create a Washington where every resident has full access to the opportunities, power, and resources they need to thrive.

10/29/2026

We recently spent the day with Bellevue College (BC) at their 5th annual Equity Professional Development Day, focused on Cultivating a Culture of Care, Connection, and Transformation for faculty and staff.

During her keynote, our director Megan Matthews explained her approach to equity using a personal story. In high school she got good grades, worked part time, helped with her siblings, and played sports. Still, it was a teacher who helped her navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) college application and tuition fee waiver processes to go to college. Equity is about access. Access to opportunities, resources, and power. As educators, how can we help give students access so they can achieve success and thrive?

She left a message with BC faculty and staff: the influence you hold is a tool, and you can use it to move equity forward.

Spaces like this help people pause, question old habits, and leave with new tools to make their work fairer and more welcoming. We love seeing a whole campus commit to that kind of growth.

Thank you to Dr. Consuelo Grier, Vice President of Community Care and Institutional Transformation, and Michelle Strange, Director of Restorative Practices, for inviting us, and to Bellevue College for having us! 💛

10/28/2026

Hace un año, Governor Bob Ferguson firmó la Orden Ejecutiva 25-09, que estableció el Immigration Subcabinet para fortalecer la coordinación entre las agencias estatales y proteger los derechos de las comunidades inmigrantes en Washington.

Guiados por los comentarios de la comunidad, seguimos mejorando la forma en que las agencias estatales, los socios gubernamentales y las comunidades trabajan juntos. Esto incluye fortalecer la coordinación, crear vías de acción más claras y desarrollar un enfoque más receptivo y responsable en nuestro trabajo.

Deslice para ver cómo avanza este trabajo y lea nuestro boletín de soporte para subgabinetes para obtener la actualización completa: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/bulletins/42ffb30

10/28/2026

One year ago, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Executive Order 25-09, establishing the Immigration Subcabinet to strengthen coordination across state agencies and protect the rights of immigrant communities in Washington.

Guided by community feedback, we're continuing to improve how state agencies, government partners, and communities work together. This includes strengthening coordination, creating clearer pathways for action, and building a more responsive and accountable approach to our work.

Swipe through to learn how this work is moving forward, and read our Subcabinet Support newsletter for the full update: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/bulletins/42ffb30

10/27/2026

WA State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs (CAPAA) will be convening a virtual listening session for Asian/Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA-NH/PI) owned small businesses based in Washington State.

The listening session will be hosted by CAPAA to understand the current state of affairs for AA-NH/PI small businesses right now. Partners from the Governor's Office will be in attendance to offer resources and answer any questions posed by community.

When: October 28 | 3PM - 4PM
Register for Zoom Link: https://bit.ly/4yRyOb3

10/27/2026

"Be smart. Don't take things for granted." Some voices carry decades of history. Mel Tonasket's is one of them.

We were honored to hear from Mel at the 37th Annual Centennial Accord, hosted this year by the Snoqualmie Tribe on their ancestral homelands. Mel is an Elder and former Chairman of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation , a former president of the National Congress of American Indians, and one of the original authors of the Centennial Accord alongside Joe DeLaCruz and W. Ron Allen, Chairman and CEO of the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe ().

His message to the next generation is clear. Know the history. Know the fights your elders fought, who won them, and how.

He lived through the termination and relocation eras, years when federal policy worked to dissolve tribal nations and move Native families away from their homelands. Many people never learn about treaty rights or the policies tribal nations have lived through because most schools don't teach it. Mel warns us that this gap in understanding can shape laws and decisions that affect tribes today.

We're grateful to Mel for his lifetime of leadership and for sharing his wisdom with all of us. Read more about what we learned at the 2026 Centennial Accord: https://equity.wa.gov/news/beyond-one-size-fits-all-approach-reflections-37th-annual-centennial-accord

10/23/2026

Byrd Barr Place created an environment of community, strength, and celebration at its annual Legacy in Motion Gala. During the event, Byrd Barr Place recognized impactful leaders and significant achievements.

Reflecting on the evening, Director Megan Matthews emphasized the vital importance of creating and protecting spaces where community members feel genuinely seen, heard, and valued, and where culture, resilience, and brilliance are celebrated.

The gala’s theme, Legacy in Motion, deeply resonated with the principle of Sankofa—the understanding that our past informs our future. History is not static; legacy is continually built every day through intentional service, policy advocacy, and community investment.

The evening featured a profound keynote address from scholar and author Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, who delivered a masterclass on cultural truth, dismantling harmful narratives, and standing firm in justice.

Just as impactful was the visible strength of Black women leaders guiding our region forward. Being in fellowship with trailblazers shaping policy, equity, and civic life—including Byrd Barr Place CEO Dr. Angela Griffin Angela Griffin, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle President & CEO Michelle Merriweather, Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth, FMS Global Strategies CEO Paula Fillmore Sardiñas, award-winning Representative Dr. Kristine Reeves Kristine M. Reeves, and countless others—serves as a powerful reminder of the collective dedication needed to advance institutional change.

Thank you, Byrd Barr Place, for more than 60 years of grassroots service, advocacy, and dedication to breaking cycles of poverty and fostering community thriving across Washington State.

10/22/2026

Housing is more than shelter. It is the cornerstone of community stability, economic mobility, and generational wealth.

This week, the Washington State Office of Equity was on the ground at the Spokane Convention Center for the 2026 Housing Washington Conference! Shout out to the entire team at Housing Washington for organizing a dynamic, statewide space that brought together developers, advocates, lenders, and public servants dedicated to solving our state’s housing challenges.

During the conference, Director Megan Matthews presented an interactive session titled "How are we Talking About DEI?", guiding attendees through the essential framework of plain-language communication and sustainable systems change. Director Matthews shared how the Office of Equity is actively desiloing state government, driving data-informed accountability across agencies, and championing targeted universalism so that public dollars deliver measurable outcomes across all communities.

Throughout the event, our team captured the impactful work of community-led developers and anti-displacement advocates who are creating tangible pathways to homeownership. We had the honor of speaking with leaders including:

• Chauncey Jones ()
• Latrice Williams (Vision Properties Washington )
• Chukundi Salisbury (Black Legacy Homeowners )
• Garry Gilliam Jr. ()
• Edwin Lindo ( Estelita’s Library - Justice Focused Community Bookstore & Library )
• Representative Nicole Macri (WA 43rd Legislative District)
• And many more!

True equity requires visible leadership and continuous partnership across every region of Washington State.

Stay connected with our initiatives and community deployments by following the Washington State Office of Equity on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, or explore our statewide resources online at equity.wa.gov

10/20/2026

We're reflecting on our time at the 37th Annual Centennial Accord, where tribal nations and state leaders gathered on the ancestral homelands of the Snoqualmie Tribe. We're grateful to have been part of it.

What does equity look like in practice? Secretary Monica Tonasket has a clear answer.

Monica serves as Secretary of the Spokane Tribal Business Council, and at this year's Accord she spoke about why tailored support matters. Washington's tribes are as varied as the landscapes they call home, from the plateaus to the coast to the mountains. Their health care needs, economic situations, and community makeup look different from one another, and even differ among members of the same tribe.

When people get put "in the same box," real needs go unmet. That's why the Office of Equity works to educate, offer support, and help state government respond to communities in the ways that fit their specific needs.

As Monica said, "We've got to meet people where they are." She also emphasized throughout the event that meetings should lead to action. We share that expectation, and we're committed to carrying it forward with our tribal partners.

👉 Want to learn more about how tribal nations and state agencies are working together? Read the full recap on our blog: https://equity.wa.gov/news/beyond-one-size-fits-all-approach-reflections-37th-annual-centennial-accord

10/19/2026

Deadline Warning: Only 2 weeks left to apply for the State Individual Assistance - Household Needs Grant and receive cash assistance!

If your home was destroyed or suffered major damage from the Central/Eastern Washington fires (on or after June 14, 2026), direct cash grants are available to help with groceries, temporary housing, and urgent supplies.

Available assistance:
• 1 person: $750
• 2–4 people: $1,500
• 5+ people: Up to $2,250

Available for residents in Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, and Yakima counties, as well as the Yakama Nation, Colville Reservation, and Spokane Tribe.

The application only takes a few minutes!

• Apply online: mil.wa.gov/wafires26
• Call 2-1-1 for phone support
More info on the program, including eligibility and what documents you need to apply here: www.mil.wa.gov/wildfire-assistance
Deadline: Oct. 30, 2026

Tag anyone in your community who might still need to apply!

10/19/2026

📢 Pierce County! Want to learn more about buying your first home?

Join us at the Tacoma-Pierce County Association of REALTORS and Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity Path 2 Homeownership Homebuyer Fair on Saturday, Oct. 24th, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Parkland Community Center.

This free community event helps people who want to buy a home feel ready and confident about the steps. We hope to see you there!

Address

Olympia, WA
98507

Website

https://equity.wa.gov/, http://waforall.wa.gov/

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