As more public employers aim to create inclusive spaces in the workplace, the conversations around diversity and equity continue to evolve and transform the ways the issue is approached.
For Metro, recent regional projects with community based organizations serve as one model for changing the culture of public agencies.
On Oct. 18, the 2016 Annual Northwest Public Employees Diversity Conference at the Oregon Convention Center held a session featuring Metro, where staff led a presentation titled “Beyond Inclusion: Partnerships that change the culture of public service.” Metro staff, along with community partners, led the dialogue regarding the culture of inclusivity in a public service agency.
“We’re very intentional about calling out race,” said Diversity, Equity & Inclusion project manager Cassie Salinas. “We understand that our communities of color face many barriers. By removing those barriers, we understand we lift up all communities.”
The sold-out workshop lasted two hours with Councilor Kathryn Harrington, Metro staff and representatives from surrounding counties, including Clark, Clackamas and Multnomah counties in attendance.
“I think that this conference does a really great job of moving us in that direction and I think that everyone in this room is clearly concerned about those issues,” said Metro communications supervisor Cliff Higgins.
Peggy Morell, a Metro public affairs specialist, says that Metro’s adoption of the Strategic Plan to Advance Racial Equity last year did three powerful things for community engagement in the region.
“It transformed our community partnerships for engaging around large plans and projects into policy,” Morell said. “It puts resources behind efforts to build both agency and community capacity to continue to partner and learn. Most importantly, it asks us to do more in our effort to better connect communities of color to our decision-making process.”
Metro invited representatives from Centro Cultural de Washington County and Momentum Alliance – both community based organizations in the Portland region – to discuss what makes their partnerships with Metro unique and successful.
“We really fostered a space that really enhances learning, not only from our end, but from Metro’s end,” said Juan Carlos González, development director of Centro Cultural. “With the increased capacity, and investing, it’s not only about investing dollars, I think it’s about investing time.”
Over the past few months, Metro has been working with Centro Cultural on the development of Chehalem Ridge, Metro’s largest contiguous natural areas located in Washington County. Throughout the project, Metro has worked with González on ensuring community voices are heard and included in the process.
“Relationships make a difference,” González said. “By investing in us in this holistic way, we’re able to have a culture in our team that once the community begins to plug into the various parts of the process, we can start to firmly and confidently talk about the project.”
For their 2018 Regional Transportation Plan, Metro is working with Momentum Alliance, a youth-led nonprofit dedicated to empowering young social justice leaders. Reproductive justice program coordinator Emily Lai says she feels that Metro truly strives to serve everyone in the region.
“Metro is actually investing time and money to build reciprocal relationships with us,” Lai said. “Our region has a long way to go before everyone here has meaningful, stable and affordable access to housing, education, employment, transportation and recreation.”