DEI Initiatives to Date

"The City of Melrose is committed to creating a community that embraces inclusiveness and respect for all. By hearing from and listening to the experiences of those who live, work, or study in Melrose we will, together, create a path forward," — Mayor Paul Brodeur.

Below, please find the latest news surrounding Mayor Brodeur's DEI initiatives to date.
 

DEI Trainings: 2023-2024


As part of the City of Melrose's ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Mayor Paul Brodeur will host a series of five mandatory DEI Trainings for City employees. The City’s DEI Consultant, Racial Equity Group, will facilitate these trainings.

The first of five trainings, “Bigger than Racism: Understanding Racialization and Structural Advantage”, aims to help the City’s employees understand: 

  • the persistence of inequities throughout the Commonwealth; 
  • identify why disparities persist across race, gender, and other historically excluded groups; 
  • gain awareness of how racialization produces and sustains racial inequities without racism; and 
  • identify the mechanisms of structural advantage that reproduce inequities within City government, including hiring, promotions, compensation, retention, service delivery and programs, purchasing and procurement, and community engagement. 

The second of two trainings, "Bias and Blind Spots", aims to help employees:

  • understand the origins human biases;
  • analyze the different types of biases;
  • discover most common workplace biases, micro-aggressions, and the impacts on teams, trust & productivity; and
  • practical strategies for managing and neutralizing biases.


Equity Assessment: 2023-2024


In partnership with the the City's DEI consultant, the Racial Equity Group, City of Melrose Human Resources Department, and other relevant departments, the City will examine employment policies, procedures, benefit programs, organizational practices, and system-wide communication methods, which may directly or indirectly contribute to different experiences for staff and residents due to their identity.

Through the equity assessment, the City will be provided with data-driven findings and practical recommendations to update employment policies and make any other changes needed to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the City as an employer. Additionally, the City recognizes the need to evaluate current community engagement strategies to increase equity and inclusion through all modes of communication.

 

The City of Melrose Selects the Racial Equity Group as DEI Consultant: April 2023


In April, 2023, the City of Melrose selected the Racial Equity Group to help the City implement the recommendations outlined in the City’s 2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment and Racial Climate Survey. The Racial Equity Group will conduct an internal equity assessment and to design and implement DEI trainings for all City staff.

 

Request for Proposals for Equity Assessment & DEI Training: January 2023


Mayor Brodeur is looking to better understand how the City's current system-wide policies and practices, including programs, benefits, outreach and communications efforts, impact our staff, residents, and other community stakeholders. In order to ensure that employees and community stakeholders are provided with equitable treatment and opportunities we must first identify our blind spots and shortcomings that may perpetuate institutional bias and systematic disparity for certain groups and then develop solutions to address them. By fully understanding these challenges, we seek to identify and implement best practices, determine short- and long-term goals, and align our resources to become a more equitable and inclusive employer and to foster a community that supports the success of all stakeholders. Through training our employees, we seek to build awareness and skills, create a common language and understanding of key definitions, and strengthen the City’s investment in DEI work.

Request for Proposals: Equity Assessment and DEI Training Series

To complete this important work, the City is seeking to advance its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts and retain the services of a professional Consultant to complete a comprehensive Organizational Equity Assessment and design and conduct series of trainings to reinforce the DEI goals of the City and set the foundation for building a more diverse and inclusive organization for employees and the community in which we serve. Learn more and submit your proposal by visiting https://www.cityofmelrose.org/mayor/initiatives/pages/equity-assessment-and-dei-training
 

Melrose Dance for Community: October 2022


In October, 2022, the City held the first ever Melrose Dance for Community event. The family-friendly event, initiated by the Melrose Human Rights Commission and the Mayor’s DEI Advisory Task Force, was centered around community re-unification and featured local artists, food, and free Salsa and community dance lessons intended to bring neighbors together. Learn more about the inclusive community event, here.


Community Forum: June 2022

In June 2022, the City of Melrose and VISIONS Inc. hosted a Community Forum to discuss the results of the City's racial climate survey and focus groups. In collaboration with the City’s diversity, equity, and inclusion consulting partner, VISIONS Inc., the City included a Q&A Session as part of the forum and provided updates on what the City is doing and will do to support its DEI goals for FY22-FY23.
 

VISIONS Report: April 2022


In 2021, the City began collaborating with Rick Pinderhughes, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant from the organization VISIONS Inc. Through this collaboration, the City has gained insight into Melrose's racial climate through a successful online surveying campaign and many focus group facilitation. In April 2022, Rick Pinderhughes, put together a report that summarizes these results and offers recommendations on how the City can address the gaps in its DEI efforts and better meet the needs of the community. The report can be accessed by visiting www.cityofmelrose.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3451/f/uploads/melrose_pp_survey_may_2022.pdf


Community Focus Groups: February 2022


In January 2022, the City of Melrose opened registration for the second step of the City’s Diversity Audit: community focus groups  series of virtual group conversations that were facilitated by VISIONS, Inc., Melrose’s consulting partner. These focus groups provided an opportunity for to community members to offer open and honest feedback on the racial climate in Melrose.

The process was designed to collect information about the racial climate in Melrose, including strengths, challenges and desired outcomes as well as to provide a chance for participants to share their experiences, interpersonally, institutionally and culturally in and around these critical matters.

 
Online Survey: September 2021

The City of Melrose asked its community to complete an Online Racial Climate Survey in 2021. The survey was accessed in English, Spanish, Portuguese or Chinese. Results of the survey will remain anonymous, and received over 1,000 responses.
 

Mayor Brodeur Launches DEI-Advisory Task Force: January 2021


In January 2021, Mayor Brodeur announced formation of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Advisory Task Force to help him, the City's departments, community organizations, businesses, and all residents alike to work cooperatively and with purpose as we strive to improve the diversity, equity, inclusion and anti-racism efforts we each must undertake. In Februrary, 2021, Mayor Brodeur announced that he have selected six members to serve on Melrose’s first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Task Force. To learn more, visit www.cityofmelrose.org/home/news/mayor-brodeur-announces-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-anti-racism-task-force-selection