The Experience of Local Governments in Promoting Equity and Inclusion

Abstract

Diversity, equity, and inclusion—values that target structural inequities in communities and workplaces—have taken on greater urgency in the aftermath of the racial and societal tensions of the past several years. This article examines how selected local governmental jurisdictions are responding to the call for greater equity and inclusion in their organizations. Experiences of selected “best in class” cities are reviewed in their efforts to advance a transformative approach to human resource policies and processes. Strategies for implementation and pitfalls to avoid are identified. The article concludes by acknowledging that this work—work which interrupts the existing patterns that tend to maintain the status quo of structural disadvantages around issues such as hiring, pay equity, and advancement and that limit a culture of inclusion—is hard, is ongoing, and is overdue but is critical and calls for immediate action.