Reparations programs

Reparations programs explicitly address the history of injustices that have led to lower socioeconomic status forcommunities of color.Cities includingAsheville, North Carolina;Berkeley, California;Providence, Rhode Island; andNew YorkCity have set up commissions to study their potential implementation.Evanston, Illinois, became the first city to enact a reparations program in 2019, which research shows issupportedby all residents. Planners should monitor how these projects are impacting communities, and similarly address the legacy effects of exclusionary planning and land use processes on the socioeconomic status of individuals, neighborhoods, and entire populations. For a brief overview of the topic of reparations, see the July 2021 APA blog post, "Six Ways Planners Can Help Communities Bridge the Racial Wealth Gap."