Shaker Heights City Hires Chief Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Officer

Press release from the City of Shaker Heights:

May 24, 2021

Mayor David E. Weiss announced that Colleen Jackson has been appointed the City’s new Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. Jackson previously served as Director of Community Partnerships and Programming for Cleveland Play House, where, in addition to managing community programs like Say Yes Cleveland and MyCom, she was responsible for professional development initiatives in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Jackson has extensive experience as a facilitator and trainer, as well as with helping organizations with strategic planning around diversity, equity and inclusion, including at Cleveland Play House, Kent State University and Baldwin Wallace. She has worked at Cleveland Play House since 2015 and was part of the team to develop and implement the CARE program (Compassionate Arts Remaking Education).

“We are pleased to welcome Colleen to the City,” says Mayor Weiss. “We are committed to being diverse, equitable and inclusive in all the work the City does, including our service delivery, decision-making, policies, and community engagement. Colleen’s expertise makes her the ideal professional for this important senior management role.”

Jackson holds a Master’s of Fine Arts in Acting/Pedagogy and a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Acting from Kent State University. She is a certified trauma specialist and has a Certificate in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University.

“It is an honor to join the City’s leadership team. I look forward to being part of advancing the work of diversity, equity and inclusion in a City with a rich history of valuing those principles,” says Jackson. “I am confident we can succeed, and even exceed the goals we set because I walk into a City with a strong foundation already in place. I’m ready to get to work.”

For additional information, please contact Chief Administrative Officer Jeri E. Chaikin at 216-491-1424 or jeri.chaikin@shakeronline.com.

This press release was produced by the City of Shaker Heights. The views expressed here are the author’s own.