Alize Asberry Payne, County Racial Equity Officer, will speak about equity initiatives, especially initiatives related to the local criminal justice system.

Washtenaw County established a Racial Equity Office in 2018 when Ms. Asberry Payne was appointed our first Racial Equity Officer. The Juvenile Justice Working Group invites the LWV of Washtenaw County and interested parties to hear Ms Asberry Payne speak via Zoom January 11 at 11:30 a.m. Ms Asberry Payne will share her initiatives in the Racial Equity Office including those related to justice in our community. 

Within Washtenaw County, deep inequities exist in lifestyles, levels of education, access to quality health care, incomes, with multiple economic issues and living paycheck to paycheck. Ms Asberry Payne and her Racial Equity Office Team are tackling some of these equity issues, for example fines and fees for youth caught up in our justice system. This fall, Washtenaw County was invited to join forces with the Fine and Fee Justice Project in San Francisco. According to a Washtenaw County web alert, “Washtenaw County will spend the next year developing and implementing strategies to eliminate fines and fees associated with the local criminal/legal justice system.” 

 Please join Alize Asberry Payne on January 11 from 11:30 to 1:00 when she offers valuable insights on some of the challenges she faces.