Since 2018, the Restorative Justice Coalition has been organizing on a topic that is important to the community. After the City issued a Policing Project Survey, it was learned that Tampa residents of all ages, races and demographics believe that the City of Tampa police officers need anti-bias and cultural competency training. At the Charter Review Commission, RJC organized and had over a dozen community speakers comment that they wanted this type of training added on the Charter. In March 2019, the voters approved this training for all City employees by 75%. On March 26, 2020, the City Council is organizing to discuss the ordinance that will enforce this important initiative. This is an IMPORTANT ordinance and it must be implemented correctly to have any effect. RJC acknowledges that cultural competency training will NOT solve all of the problems and the disparities within our City. Rather, it is only a very humble beginning. It does, however, satisfy a demand of the City residents and it is important that the program implemented is robust and intentional in its efforts. We are asking your organization to sign on to support this ordinance.

You can read more about the background of this work at: www.restorativejusticecoalition.com/anti-bias-training