Office of Social Equity & Innovation

Digital Equity Resources

Need Home Internet, Device Resources, and Tech Support?

• Reduced-cost, high speed home internet through The Affordable Connectivity Program
• Denver Public Library Digital Navigator One-on-One Support or call (720) 865-1111
• Reduced-cost laptops and computers at PCsforPeople, call (720) 278-7725, or visit in-person at 6035 E 38^th Avenue, Denver, CO 80207
• Reduced-cost or free mobile smartphones through Lifeline Support
• Denver Digital Equity Coalition

Goal 1: The OSEI will directly influence policies, budget, and programmatic decisions in order to lead city agencies in achieving measurable improvements in racial equity, social equity, and social justice in Denver.

Goal 2: The OSEI will train city staff in its Race and Social Justice (RSJ) Academy in order to establish understanding of the concepts and approaches that drive the city’s commitment to promote racial equity, social equity, and social justice across the city.

Goal 3: The OSEI will lead and guide concrete methodologies for collecting and analyzing equity data with agencies across the city to create more equitable outcomes for city programming.

Goal 4: The OSEI will create a direct link with the community, and internal & external stakeholders in order to guide, shape, and inform perspectives of our work.

News Releases

• Mayor Hancock and the City and County of Denver Continue to Bridge the Digital Equity Gap for Residents
• Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation Responds to City Equity Program and Practices Audit
• New Equity and Social Innovation Office will Imbed these Values in City Operations
• Denver Targets Institutional Racism in New Equity Package
• Mayor Hancock Appoints New Chief Equity Officer
• Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation Releases 2021 Annual Report
• City and Denver’s Chinese Community Remove Anti-Chinese Historical Marker in LoDo

In the News

• Denver's Hancock announces new Office of Equity and Social Innovation - Colorado Politics
• Denver proposals would remove ‘illegal alien’ from city law, ban discrimination against protective hairstyles - The Denver Gazette
• Denver City Council passes new equity package - CBS Denver
• Denver announces Dr. Aisha Rousseau as Chief Equity Officer, head of Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation - Channel 7
• Denver's new chief equity officer will look at how the city spends money on equity and diversity efforts - 9 News
• Denver mayor names Aisha Rousseau the city's chief equity officer - The Gazette
• As Denver Sees Uneven Recovery For Groups Disproportionately Impacted By The Pandemic, City Welcomes New Chief Equity Officer - CBS Denver

Mission

We utilize best and innovative practices to lead Denver in transformative change with a commitment to equitable outcomes.

Vision

Equity is embedded in all facets of Denver’s operations.

Values

Given the structural and institutional inequities that impact the Denver community, our work centers those who have been negatively impacted by racial and social injustices.

How We Define Equity

When race and other social identities can no longer be used to predict life outcomes

Equity Process

Equity is achieved through the advancement of policies and practices that center those who are underrepresented and have been historically disadvantaged.

The Equity in Denver: How History Impacts Equity Today report is a comprehensive equity indicator report that provides insight into multiple areas such as financial stability, housing, education and public health.  Indicators are simply data points that measure the disparities faced by historically marginalized groups.

Like other cities, Denver faces the challenges of historical inequities that have been institutionalized over the course of centuries.  

In 2019, Mayor Michael Hancock declared the intention to have equity embedded in all facets of the City and County of Denver and launched the Race and Social Justice Initiative. In 2020, Mayor Hancock created the Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation (OSEI). With the creation of this agency, our city is institutionalizing a place in local government where expertise, analysis, data and evaluation and innovation are part of what we do everyday to address these persistent inequities.

Turning the curve on inequities begins by taking stock and evaluating the historical context that set-in motion the disparities we see today. The Equity in Denver report provides elected officials, city staff, community members, and equity advocates a common understanding of how we will take action in Denver to turn this centuries old curve.

Read the Full Equity in Denver Report Now