You Can Join A Webinar On Findings From City Of Pittsfield’s DEI Study Group

Slater had a chance to speak Mike Taylor over at Pittsfield City Hall about the study.

Slater: What is a DEI study?

Mike: DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. So we did the study to evaluate specific areas of our structure between the city and our schools in terms of areas of recruitment, professional development, leadership, and strategic planning and how we advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion in those particular areas. Basically, what's already happening or not happening and where do we need to expand upon or build in new policies or practices.

Slater: Given the state of social justice issues in our country at the moment, did the city feel it was behind the ball on DEI or did it just need to be addressed.

Mike: I think both. After the summer of 2020 the Mayor and I thought we needed to do a deeper dive and evaluate what we had going on with diversity, equity and inclusion and where we need to do better.

You can join the webinar and view the findings from that study from the following information.

The City of Pittsfield’s scheduled webinar at 6 p.m. on March 25 to review findings from its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) study group will be rescheduled to 6 p.m. on March 30.

Human Resources Director Michael Taylor said the schedule change is necessary as the webinar conflicts with the event, Massachusetts town hall on anti-Asian racism, sponsored by the Berkshire branch of the NAACP.

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“As this is also an important and necessary conversation for our community, we felt it was appropriate to reschedule our event to another time and day,” he said.

Please note that the noon webinar will still take place on March 25. Those who registered for the 6 p.m. webinar will receive an update with a link to the new date.

To register for the 6 p.m. webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9sDm1hp4TSS_DY76O7tDOw

Each webinar will feature a short presentation on the recommendations, followed by an opportunity to provide verbal or written responses. Spanish interpretation and captions will be available. Individuals with specific needs are asked to call 413-499-9340 or email pittsfielddei@cityofpittsfield.org

For more information, please call the Department of Human Resources at 413-499-9340