The Planning Lady

In Elizabeth Sawin’s book Multisolving she dedicates an entire chapter to equity, the only element of multisolving that has it’s own chapter highlighting its importance. While we all move through the same systems, we don’t all move through them or experience them the same way. It challenges the way we think about systems in order to make them work better for everyone.

While equity should be centered in a multisolving process, it is possible to do so without a commitment to equity. If the influencers of the system are focused on other goals that do not consider negative past, current, or potential impacts for groups or individuals, they can easily accomplish multiple goals without improving equity. An example would be a watershed improvement project that takes homes out of a flood plain, creates a beautiful and accessible trail system, returns some diversity in the local ecology, and improves traffic flow. This definitely was a multisolving project, but without considering equity, residents in the neighborhood may be priced out of their homes because of rising property values following the improvements.

Sawin discusses the idea of success to the successful. Typically this is a negative cycle that those with power and influence take advantage of to gain more and block those beneath them from the same success. It fits within the Collection of Objects world view. A personal example of the success to the successful that I don’t feel is quite so sinister was the purchase of my first home during college. I was able to claim the $8,000 tax rebate following the Great Recession that allowed me to renovate the basement for an additional rental unit. The income from the renters throughout college helped me pay the mortgage. Following graduation I sold the home and used the profits from its increased value to pay off student loans. The success of the tax rebate led to further success when selling the home to reduce my debt. It was a relief to be able to do so, however I recognize that not everyone was able to buy a house at that time and it was a privilege for me to do so.

One equity gap in a system I work within is our transportation system. It is heavily skewed towards car ownership, leaving our transit system funded at a level that doesn’t allow for frequent service, late night service, or Sunday service. This means that anyone who doesn’t own a car because they choose not to, are disabled and can’t drive, or do not have an income level to own a car, are left with an inequitable system that can add hours to any trip or deprive them of making trips when the bus is not in service. The ripple effect of this was brought to light in talking with individuals that rely on transit. It meant they had to give up jobs that required weekend hours or had shifts that started before the buses did in the morning. It meant they had to stand out in the cold for an extra hour when a bus broke down and another wasn’t coming until the next loop. It meant skipping social engagements because it would take too long to get there. By creating a more equitable transportation system we could improve the economic output of Lincolnites, reduce levels of poverty induced by lack of access to jobs or housing, improve quality of life, and decrease the amount of time spent standing and waiting for a bus.