DEPARTMENT: Diversity and Inclusion Office (DIO)
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kiran Bains
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT: Briefing and update on DIO's Equity Initiative
SUMMARY:
A. A briefing by the Chief Equity Officer about the Office of Diversity and Inclusion created in 2015 and the Equity Initiative pilot and three-year strategy to embed equity as a core operating principle across the city organization.
B. A presentation from Dr. Christine Drennon, Associate Professor at Trinity University, providing an academic survey of inequity through the history of San Antonio.
BACKGROUND:
Chief Equity Officer briefing
DIO was launched in 2015 to foster an inclusive culture across the City organization, ensure City processes have equitable outcomes, and be a safe place for community members to report discrimination.
To this end, DIO launched a pilot Equity Initiative in March 2017 providing 70 employees from 6 departments with 15 hours of workshops and strategy sessions. Each program team developed equity action plans to strengthen their delivery of quality services. The pilot was led in consultation with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, a national membership organization for jurisdictions committed to advancing equity. Key findings include:
1. The City is more effective and efficient when delivering equitable quality services to the public.
2. Embedding equity as an operating principle puts the organization's core values into action.
3. Equity training is desired and welcomed by City employees at all levels of the organization.
4. Data must be disaggregated, at minimum, by race, income, and district to design the smartest policies and programs.
5. Equitable delivery of City services requires equitable community engagement.
6. As a result of the pilot, DIO has developed a strategy to embed equity as a core operating principle across the organization within 3 years (FY 2018-2020).
With the support of the initial 6 departments, DIO has developed ...
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