While Kansas City's regional economy is relatively resilient, inequities in educational attainment and economic opportunity for its black and Latino communities place its economy at risk. The process of developing this profile helped build a broader coalition for equitable growth that includes the Mid-America Regional Council (a regional planning agency), Kansas City Regional Equity Network, and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Download the equity profile and summary.

Media: Racial, Ethnic Inequities in Kansas City Region Threaten its Future (The Kansas City Star), Racial Inequality Threatens Kansas City Economy (CFED), Kansas City’s Future Depends on Overcoming a Racial Divide (The Kansas City Star), Reducing Inequality Key to Spurring Economic Growth in KC, Expert Says (Kansas Health Institute)

Our analysis showed that communities of color are driving growth and change in the Ocean State – growing from 7 percent of the population in 1980 to 24 percent of the population today – yet face barriers accessing quality employment. It inspired Governor Chafee’s Executive Order on Diversity, aimed at increasing opportunities for people of color to access government jobs and business contracts. Download the equity profile and summary.

Media: Study Finds Racial Gaps Putting RI’s Economy, Future at Risk (Go Local Prov News), R.I. Urged to Focus on Homegrown Firms (Boston Globe), Governor Chafee Joins Sustainable Rhode Island Consortium for Release of Reports on State's Economic Development Data and Conditions of Social Equity (RI.Gov)

Describes immediate and decisive action needed by California's leaders to increase fairness and opportunity as the state stands at the cutting edge of the nation's demographic transformation, growing more racially and ethnically diverse.

Puts forward a new vision of America’s future: lifts up the challenges that the nation must address to succeed and highlights continued racial gaps and disparities, reviews current and future demographic shifts, and suggests initial steps toward building an equity-driven growth model based on the innovative work being done in communities across the country.