ABOUT THE EQUITY SCORING INITIATIVE
A partnership of PolicyLink and the Urban Institute

Federal legislation is fundamental to building a nation in which all can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Since our nation’s founding, in many ways, federal legislation has created and exacerbated racial inequities, leaving one-third of the population experiencing material poverty and preventing our democracy from realizing the promise of equity.

To ensure the federal government serves us all, we must accurately understand and assess whether every policy advances or impedes equity.

The Equity Scoring Initiative (ESI) exists to establish the foundation for a new legislative scoring regime. By scoring for equity, we can begin to create an accountable, responsive democracy.

Already known as the refugee capital of the United States, Lancaster is steadily becoming more diverse as people of color increasingly move into the county for school and work. Over the next few decades, a larger share of the area’s residents will be people of color from a rich variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. As a result, the success and prosperity of the county rely on dismantling unjust barriers and ensuring that everyone can participate in and enjoy the benefits of a thriving economy. This profile — developed by a coalition of the county’s civic organizations in partnership with the National Equity Atlas (a partnership between PolicyLink and the USC Equity Research Institute) — is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania. It illustrates how ongoing inequities in Lancaster have fueled racial disparities in income, housing, educational attainment, and many other areas. These growing gaps are costing the county billions of dollars in potential economic growth each year. In addition, the accompanying summary offers several policy solutions to bolster existing local efforts aimed at advancing racial equity and creating prosperity for generations to come. Read the profile and summary. To delve deeper into the state of equity and equitable growth in Lancaster County, explore equityprofilelancaster.com.