The City of Takoma Park Announces the Public Safety Task Force Facilitation Team

The City of Takoma Park recently issued a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit the services of a facilitator or facilitator team to manage the City’s Public Safety Task Force, established by City Council Resolution 2020-21. This Task Force will reimagine the structure and role of public safety in Takoma Park through engaged discussions and recommend changes to public safety policies and funding.

After a review of proposals and team interviews, the City has selected the joint facilitation team of LINK Strategic Partners (LINK) and Expectant Advisory, LLC. LINK is a social impact strategic communications and community engagement firm with demonstrated commitment to the community and civic-based work for causes that matter.  Expectant Advisory, LLC, is a Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led consultancy with experience facilitating dynamic discussions across the United States and around the world.

In light of the sensitive nature of the topics the Public Safety Task Force will address, the City selected a partner who was able to demonstrate their capacity for and experience with strategic planning, racial equity, and community-building efforts across the country. This year alone, LINK and Expectant Advisory have convened national action-oriented discussions on equity, facilitated discussions on public safety reform, and have worked with partners to apply a Black history and culture lens to the history of policing.

Additionally, it was critically important that the project team selected was diverse and reflected the diversity of our community. LINK’s organization reflects the pluralistic, multi-ethnic composition of not only Takoma Park, but the United States of America. LINK’s youngest employee is 17 years old and their most senior staff member is 92. More than half of LINK’s staff is female and nearly 70% are people of color. This project will be led by a diverse group of facilitators, who can provide context and framing for a discussion and connect with the communities with whom we will engage as part of this process.

Given that the City of Takoma Park has long been a leader in inclusive approaches to policies and engagement, we are honored to partner with LINK and their partner Expectant Advisory, LLC as they help us reimagine public safety.

Links of Interest:

• City Council Resolution 2020-21 Establishing a Task Force on Reimagining Public Safety to Ensure Racial Justice
• Task Force Facilitation Team
• Takoma Park’s Racial Equity Initiative Project Page
• Watch the recorded Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Informational Meeting held on Tuesday, January 26

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