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DEI Training for City of Melrose Employees Continues Tomorrow, Some Offices to Temporarily Close

To ensure all staff can participate in the training, many City departments will be lightly staffed, and some City offices will be closed:
Posted on: October 2, 2023 - 2:56pm
DEI Training for City of Melrose Employees Continues Tomorrow, Some Offices to Temporarily Close

To build upon the foundational knowledge received in their first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training session, City of Melrose employees will participate in a second DEI Training session, “Bias and Blind Spots”, tomorrow, Tuesday, October 3, 2023. The training will be facilitated by the City’s DEI consultant, Racial Equity Group, which the City hired to conduct a comprehensive series of five DEI training sessions for employees.

To ensure all staff can participate in the training, many City departments will be lightly staffed, and the following City offices will be closed:

  • The Melrose Public Library, from 9:45 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
  • The Department of Public Work Offices at the City Yard, from 9:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.
  • The Health and Human Services Department, from 9:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.
  • The Information Technology Department, from 9:45 a.m. until 12:15 p.m.
  • The Clerk of Committees Office, from 12:45 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

The training is in line with the City’s commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion and the first two sessions are foundational, designed to foster a shared knowledge base, establish a common language, and enhance a collective understanding of DEI.

Tomorrow’s training will delve into important aspects of bias awareness and address blind spots that may exist within life and the workplace. The aim is to provide employees with valuable insights and tools to promote a more inclusive and equitable work environment. Last week, City employees participated in their first training, “Bigger than Racism: Understanding Racialization and Structural Advantage”.

The third training will be held on October 11 and the fourth training on October 25. The date of the fifth training has yet to be announced.

The DEI training courses are the next step in implementing the recommendations outlined in the City’s 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment and Racial Climate Survey. Through the training series, the City seeks to empower employees to recognize, respect, and value the differences that lead to innovative approaches and diverse thought and to develop skills to address problems and challenging situations, with the goal of sustaining a lasting shift in culture.

For more information on the City’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, visit www.cityofmelrose.org/mayor/pages/dei-initiatives-date.