Constantine Names Co-Chairs For New Anti-Racism Committee

KING COUNTY, WA — King County Executive Dow Constantine named two co-chairs and unveiled $25 million in funding for a new "Racism is a Public Health Crisis" community oversight committee. The committee will be led by Constantine, Abigail Echo-Hawk, executive vice president at the Seattle Indian Health Board, and Dr. Ben Danielson, who left his position at the Odessa Brown Children's Clinic last year, citing racism at Seattle Children's Hospital.

King County formally declared racism a public health crisis in June 2020 and later adopted budget and policy priorities for anti-racist initiatives. The $25 million to support the committee's efforts comes from federal funding.

The three co-chairs each released statements Tuesday:

Echo-Hawk writes:

"Racism in all its forms has created and continues to perpetuate health and socioeconomic disparities in our BIPOC communities, and I am honored to co-chair a committee that recognizes racism as a public health crisis and is dedicated to addressing root causes. I am looking forward to working with Dr. Ben Danielson and King County Executive Dow Constantine to build solutions by BIPOC communities, for BIPOC communities."

Danielson writes:

"Racism and its odious kin harm bodies, minds, communities and futures. Racism measurably takes lives, erases dignity, and robs us of the kind of society we would all benefit from. I cherish the opportunity to join in this effort. This effort represents earnest labor to take on the deeply rooted and constant flow of racism. This can only happen if this process is driven by the voices of those most impacted by racism. I see this as a significant down payment in truly making anti-racism an action term in King County. Financial resource alone won't do it and short timelines are short-sighted when it comes to this work. An investment like this, along with the best possible community-centering co-creation process affords a unique chance to assure that the aspirational words on paper actually become meaningful change."

Constantine writes:

"No one in King County can thrive until every person of color is able to thrive, and the guidance from these community leaders will help fulfil that mission for all of us in Martin Luther King Jr. County. Coordinating and representing our communities’ priorities and aligning the County’s actions with our values, Ms. Echo-Hawk and Dr. Danielson's service as co-chairs of the Racism is a Public Health Crisis community oversight committee will help advance our commitment to equity, racial and social justice for everyone in King County."

According to the county, Echo-Hawk and Danielson will work with Constantine to fulfill three specific goals:

• Strengthen the County's relationship with communities most negatively harmed by systemic racism.
• Provide accountability and guidance on the County's Racism is a Public Health Crisis 2021 – 22 budget and policy priorities.
• Co-create with communities a vision, long-term goals, and strategies for racial equity and social justice, including allocation of the $25 million fund to support the economic recovery of communities most negatively impacted by systemic racism and COVID-19.

According to the executive's office, the committee will work with county staff to finalize a timeline for achieving the project's goals.