Civic Engagement May 2021
Civic Engagement - We are Family
John H. Hughes, IV: Assistant City Manager, City of Lynchburg
May 2021 is upon us with operations continuing under COVID protocols and VOSH guidelines during a period of transition. I’m sincerely hopeful that everyone in your personal and professional circles are healthy and safe as we work toward reopening Virginia. We are busy working to maintain contact with stakeholders, lead initiatives, fulfill requests and assist departments in any way possible.
How are the transitions in your offices going? Are you welcoming those who are new, different, less outgoing, more knowledgeable, enthusiastic, etc.? Are you treating others with respect and examining your own implicit biases regularly? Food for thought.
When I contemplated drafting this article, the theme of family consistently appeared. We often broadcast the familial atmosphere desired in the workplace and purport to have a culture of camaraderie. Unfortunately, this is not true for a number of our colleagues. Although laws and policies are set to eliminate oppression, bigotry, sexism, and racism; a portion of our public sector colleagues are experiencing these negative dynamics regularly. Even when reflecting upon our own families, we realize that no one is perfect. To that end, we should acknowledge our imperfections and the deficits of those around us, with the goal of reducing barriers and building bridges.
A recently popular method of advising and informing the workforce about these differences is through training and direct support toward Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or DEI. Many organizations, education systems and localities have appointed DEI chairs, which could be a step in the right direction. If these positions are appointed, however, it is imperative that they be resourced efficiently through funding, personnel, and policy. We realize that DEI is a crucial element in recruitment and retention, workplace success, community relations, and professional growth. At the same time, we must also address what DEI is not. The concept and ideology are not about hating differences, but appreciating them; not about quotas, rather equity; and not about hiding identities, but about creating and maintaining a culture of value.
The need to identify a link between civic engagement and DEI is glaringly evident. We have all seen and heard the cries of our constituents play out on TV and social media over the past year. In addressing public concerns, we are tasked with developing programs or resources that inform colleagues and citizens on ways to engage in the civic process related to DEI. To that end, the City of Lynchburg is embarking on a rejuvenated quest to embrace DEI.
Action for Change (A4C), a volunteer City of Lynchburg employee group that has championed DEI for over a decade, found a renewed vision and purpose in the wake of 2020’s international civil unrest. Through the continued dedication of A4C, as well as intra-departmental discussions, and a greater interest in awareness of DEI; we are now poised to continue the movement toward a City that is a great place to live work and play for ALL. A4C Members participated in an initial DEI focus group session with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) in April. An opportunity for additional City employees to participate in focus groups will happen in May of this year. Nine focus groups of about 12 employees each will be facilitated in a virtual format focused on employees’ current perception of the City’s workplace environment. Data from these 1-hour sessions will be compiled in a report prior to coordination of larger professional development workshops later in the year. In these workshops, participants will learn about how bias and prejudice affect individuals and institutions; develop a shared language for thinking about and exploring issues of equity and inclusion; examine the role of prejudice and advantage, and how these dynamics impact service to diverse communities; and gain perspective on how workplaces can build effective relationships with constituents from diverse backgrounds, including peers, clients, and community members.
Our employees live either in the communities they serve or in close proximity. Endowing everyone with the truth about diversity, equity and inclusion fits squarely with our call to civic engagement. An old adage states: You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. We are entrusted with getting various jobs done for the residents in our communities and the stakeholders invested in making them great. Let’s do it.
We are Family! Peace