ARC’s Public Policy Program challenges the trend of so-called “Colorblind” policies being replicated in state houses across the nation. The program addresses institutionalized racial inequity by refocusing public debate and policymaking on equitable outcomes.

Our goal is to promote and develop pro-active racial justice policies and practices that can be replicated in other states. Through the Public Policy Program, ARC moves a policy agenda that embraces racial justice as a value that drives public discourse and policymaking, and produces outcomes that benefit everyone. Some of the program’s advocacy tools include: 

• The Racial Justice Legislative Report Cards are our flagship project for setting a racial justice standard in legislation. Applying our racial equity criteria to bills, the Report Card grades each legislator and the governors on their performance. 
  
  
• Public Policy Briefs are focused on key policy issues including universal health care, education and voting rights. The papers outline the racial dynamics at play, the impact of the policy and relevant data, institutional players, and advocacy strategies.  
  
  
• Racial Impact Analysis Tools provide advocates a means of assessing the likely impacts of a policy proposal in order to assess outcomes, minimize disparities and foster racial equity.

Some of the publications from ARC's Public Policy Program:

California Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity 2005

The 2005 Legislative Report Card on Racial Equity evaluates and grades Governor Schwarzenegger and members of the Legislature on their responses to eighteen pieces of legislation that would have the most direct positive impact on communities of color. The report card is broken down into five issue areas: educational equity, economic justice, health equity, civil rights, and criminal justice.

Multimedia: Racial Justice in California
California's new majority is diverse and growing. By 2050, three in four Californian's will be a person of color. Download this short video to learn more about the changing demographics and political climate in California.

Reporting on Race, Education and No Child Left Behind: A Guide for Journalists
Get the tools needed to uncover the story behind the story - “the hidden dimension of race in President Bush's signature education policy.

Falling Through the Cracks: How California's Welfare Policy Keeps Families Poor
Investigative report documents the experiences of over thirty families in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Alameda counties.