Here’s how.

First, if people don’t fully understand the scope of an issue – such as institutional racism and how it relates to their professional work – they are less likely to change how they do their jobs. What Seattle officials have learned is that robust professional development trainings for employees create common understandings and shared knowledge.

Second, developing a clear process to enact change makes it easier to have widespread application. A racial equity toolkit means that equity is not an afterthought. Instead, it is a central part of how all decisions are made in city government.

Third, institutional change takes time and involves more than legal compliance. It is important to start small and see what works in the local context. Building a foundation for creating further change keeps efforts moving forward.

In our view, without the social infrastructure in place, passing a law for racial justice is neither as likely nor as successful. Indeed, a strong institutional commitment shown over time helps give racial justice laws legitimacy.

Finally, and arguably most important, we recognize the uniqueness of different cities and towns and caution against the impulse to wholesale copy Seattle’s efforts. City governments are better served by first assessing the local context of racial and social justice, and then adapting what worked in Seattle to advance racial equity in each place.

Everyone benefits from more equitable approaches to urban governance. Crafting and sustaining municipal programs that focus on racial equity is possible for cities seeking a more just future.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

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Serin Houston received funding from the National Science Foundation for a Graduate Research Fellowship from 2006 to 2009 and conducted research in Seattle during this time. This research included interviewing government employees and community members, gathering data in the municipal archives, and conducting participant observation. This article draws upon these data. Houston and Trudeau maintain a commitment to the highest ethical and academic standards.

Dan Trudeau does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.