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Lacey Commission on Equity maps 2026 priorities in SOAR planning session
Summary
At an Oct. 27 meeting the Lacey Commission on Equity used a SOAR exercise to translate strengths and regional collaboration into short-term actions—quarterly regional meetings, youth outreach, multilingual communications and neighborhood listening sessions—to form a draft 2026 work plan to present to City Council.
The Lacey Commission on Equity spent the bulk of its Oct. 27 meeting running a SOAR strategic exercise—Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, Results—to outline priorities for a 2026 work plan.
Staff presented the exercise and asked commissioners to focus on what the commission could accomplish in the next 12 months. Commissioners identified strength in city support and staff structure, a history of sustained work on equity goals and a widely shared commitment to carry lived experience into action. "Part of that success is you and your team," one commissioner said, noting regular attendance and staff preparedness.
The group distilled short-term priorities that will feed a draft work plan: host quarterly regional advisory meetings with neighboring jurisdictions, expand youth engagement and mentorship, create multilingual communications and outreach, and hold neighborhood listening sessions using the commission's equity map. Commissioners also recommended producing an annual accountability report to track performance indicators and celebrate incremental wins.
On communications, staff described existing tools — the Lacey Weekly newsletter and the city’s subscriptions page — and pledged to explore a multilingual newsletter and other non-internet outreach for residents without online access. Commissioners urged the commission to use both digital channels and analog methods such as handouts and community open-house events to reach a broader audience.
Staff said they will consolidate today's input into a draft 2026 work plan and revisit it at the December meeting; the commission is tentatively scheduled to present the plan to the Lacey City Council on Jan. 27. No formal policy decisions were made at the meeting; the SOAR exercise informed the commission’s internal prioritization for 2026.
