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We are the Partnership for Southern Equity 

Our mission is to advance policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all in the growth of metropolitan Atlanta and the American South.

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From the PSE Media Room

Statement on the Georgia Senate Passing SB 235
HBCU Innovation and Economic Prosperity Planning Districts Act

Statement on the Passing of Dexter Scott King

Newsweek: For MLK Day, a Community Vision for Climate Resilience and Racial Equity

Our History

2008

2008

Nathaniel Smith leads a 22-member delegation from metropolitan Atlanta to attend PolicyLink’s Equity Summit in New Orleans where they realize Atlanta’s own inequities and moves to address them.

2008

2009

2009

Equity Atlanta is formed and hosts the Southern Sustainability Summit on the intersections of environment, economy and equity. This event brought together over 300 individuals from diverse organizations to engage in discussions about true sustainability in Metro Atlanta and the American South.

Inaugural Equity Atlanta Forum: Recovering Stronger Convening and Policy Brief
A diverse group of over 200 advocates united in a session to learn about the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act opportunities in Metro Atlanta. A supporting policy brief was created to highlight promising local practices for creating Recovery Act dollars equitably.

Co-hosted The American Dream Foreclosed: Local and National Solutions for the Housing and Mortgage Crisis”
More than seventy members of the Emory and Georgia Tech communities came together to hear from a powerful, provocative panel of experts addressing local and national solutions to the mortgage crisis. Alyssa Katz, author of Our Lot: How Real Estate Came to Own US, was the keynote speaker. The dialogue galvanized participants to take this dialogue to their communities.

2009

2009 (cont.)

2009 (cont.)

Equity Atlanta Forum II: Census Power! Lifting Every Voice for Regional Equity
The second Equity Atlanta Forum highlighted the importance of a complete count in the 2010 U.S. Census. More than 100 participants representing diverse communities of color shared their efforts in promoting complete count in their respective communities.

Equitable Planning work session convened with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC)
Equity Atlanta partnered with the Atlanta Regional Commission to host an equitable planning workshop in conjunction with ARC’s Plan 2040 long-term transportation planning. More than 100 organizations provided critical insight for shared growth and prosperity via equitable planning strategies. The event was moderated by Equity Atlanta’s Co-founder, Nathaniel Smith.

2009 (cont.)

2010

2010

PSE mobilizes the Just Transportation Circle (JTC) to engage the public around pending Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) Referendum.

Equity Atlanta changes its name to the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) to reflect its collaborative nature and focus on the American South.

PSE collaborates with the Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) to create a rubric for mapping equity gaps throughout the region to inform the Commission’s decision-making Equitable Target Areas (ETA) Index.

2010

2011

2011

PSE provides community engagement for the Beltline’s Equitable Development Plan.

PSE mobilizes the Just Transportation Circle (JTC) to engage the public around pending Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) Referendum.

2011

2013

2013

PSE launches the Metro Atlanta Equity Atlas (MAEA) – first report and web-based GIS mapping tool designed to articulate and map spatial
nequities in the Metro Atlanta region.

PSE mobilizes Just Energy Circle (JEC) to organize equity partners in climate advocacy around energy equity issues in Metro Atlanta.

2013

2014

2014

PSE mobilizes Just Energy Circle (JEC) to mobilize equity partners in climate advocacy around energy equity issues in Metro Atlanta.

2014

2016

2016

PSE works with the Southeastern Energy Efficiency Alliance and the Southern Sustainability Directors Network to develop an equity toolkit and leadership module to instruct Directors on integrating equity tactics and impact measures into their daily work.

PSE mobilizes Just Opportunity Circle (JOC) to mobilize equity economic development leaders around economic inclusion
challenges in metro Atlanta.

PSE launches "Growing the Future" report that covers economic inclusion, and the "Opportunity Deferred: Race, Transportation, & the Future of Metro Atlanta" report on the history of transportation and development inequities and potential solutions.

2016

2016 (cont,)

2016 (cont,)

PSE mobilizes Just Growth Circle (JGC) around equitable growth in metro Atlanta. Principles created by JGC members are integrated into the City of Atlanta’s Green Infrastructure Action Plan.

PSE works with Atlanta City Council members to pass referendum encouraging MARTA and the Beltline to consider housing and jobs in relation to the passage of $2.5 billion transit and infrastructure expansion funding for the City of Atlanta.

2016 (cont,)

2017

2017

PSE, the Center for Civic Innovation and ProGeorgia form Our Future Atlanta (OFA) to take a stand on the importance of local elections including the creation of a Quality of Life Agenda to hold future city and regional leaders accountable.

PSE is awarded its largest single grant in its history – $1 million from the MacArthur Foundation to support its equity work throughout Georgia; to empower vulnerable populations and communities of color most affected by climate change.

PSE develops a strategic plan charting its growth through 2020 in capacity and influence.

2017