Derrick L. Davis, a Democrat, represents the 6th District on the Prince George’s County Council and is chair of the board of directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Responding to the novel coronavirus pandemic and its far-reaching health, economic and societal impacts has been and will continue to be Job 1 for area officials for the foreseeable future. At the same time, we recognize that many of the issues we had entering 2020 persist and, in some cases, have been magnified.
The challenge now facing the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, and all those dedicated to the betterment of our region, is how we apply what we have learned from current events as we shape a better, more equitable future — not just a return to normal.
If not for the coronavirus, I don’t know that we would be shining a light on long-standing health disparities affecting communities of color. Without George Floyd, I don’t know that we would be drawing widespread attention to the systemic racism that has been baked into policies and practices of our governments and other sectors. But we are having these conversations now, and I am proud to be part of a region with government, business and nonprofit leaders ready to respond with action, not lip service.
The board of directors of the Council of Governments took a key step this month, unanimously affirming racial equity as a fundamental value and pledging to weave equity more intentionally into all our programs, including transportation, environmental and community planning. By bringing together leaders from 24 local governments, this action was an unprecedented statement of solidarity in rejecting racial discrimination and exclusion, and a sign of close alignment as we pursue anti-racist approaches in our home jurisdictions.
