The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) hosted their annual membership meeting online and in person in Portland, Oregon from April 19-21, 2022. This conference gathered hundreds of racial equity practitioners across the country who work in local, state and regional government to uplift best practices, celebrate victories, and share lessons learned from their work advancing racial equity in their jurisdictions. Key ideas discussed and lessons learned included: 

• Engagement not just as a strategy but as a way of being, where community is centered in a process from the very beginning, and the engagement is authentic, transparent, and reciprocal. 
• Sharing space with other jurisdictions working towards racial equity is energizing, especially as we discuss continuing to foster a culture of belonging for community and staff. 
• Art reflects radical imaginings of a better future, and we should invoke storytelling and creativity in our community co-design efforts and equity spaces.