Brodeur Forming DEI Task Force To Have Say In City Policy

MELROSE, MA — Mayor Paul Brodeur said he will create a task force focused on diversity, equity and inclusion that will keep his administration and the city accountable on such matters and help influence policy decisions.

Brodeur made the announcement on his city blog Wednesday evening, saying "the last several months have taught me that this is hard, slow work, despite how urgent the need is."

The task force will be made up of city officials, including the mayor, HR director, School Committee chair, City Council president, Human Rights Commission chair or their designees, as well as six residents who are at least one of the following: a person of color, a parent of a student in the school system or a person with professional experience working with diversity, equity and inclusion issues. Residents as young as high-school aged can apply. Anyone interested can submit a resume to DEI@Cityofmelrose.org.

The task force will meet once a month and work in subgroups.

"Our City today enjoys an unprecedented level of diversity, and it is vital [that] I as Mayor and every leader in this community act with purpose and intention to ensure that there is room at the table for all Melrosians," Brodeur said. "Many residents, either through boards and commissions or grassroots organizing have been doing incredible work on these topics."

The city was recently in the process of finalizing an agreement for an external needs assessment of racial equity in the city, with $100,000 of free cash being earmarked to implement at least some of the assessment suggests — including potentially implicit bias training.

Brodeur has also said that beginning with the FY22 budget there will be an annual diversity, equity and inclusion line item "to assist in meeting the challenges and goals identified through the external needs assessment and any related actions including, but not limited to, training, diversity in recruiting, hiring and retention practices, and community engagement."

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.