Town of Brookline FY21 Program Budget

Human Services l Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations

Program Description
The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations conducts a variety of activities and programs aimed at promoting Brookline as a community that is mindful and respectful of all people.  The mission of the Office and the goal of the Town are to have a community characterized by the values of inclusion.  The Office is instrumental in assisting the Town to create and to maintain a diverse workforce and to provide support and consultation to employees and others who are subjected to discriminatory behavior.  The Office supports community projects that promote multi-cultural awareness, decrease health disparities, and foster better relationships between Brookline’s diverse populations.  The Office works in conjunction with Town Departments and Non-profit Organizations to develop programs for disadvantaged groups and to increase the quality of life for all Brookline residents. 
 
The Office provides professional and administrative support to the following Town Commissions and ad hoc Committees:
  • Brookline Commission for the Disabled
  • Brookline Commission for Women
  • Brookline Commission for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee
  • Age Friendly Cities Committee
  • Indigenous People’s Day Committee
  • Hidden Brookline
  • Women Thriving Inc.
  • Domestic Violence Roundtable

The Director serves as the Town’s Chief Diversity Officer.  The Office provides assistance in applying for health insurance and other entitlement programs and advocates for those who may face discrimination, unfair housing practices, stereotyping and social injustice.  

FY2021 Objectives
  1. To create at least four opportunities to meet with teens and young adults with a focus to increase their civic participation.
  2. To continue to be a partner with community entities to develop better programs and strategies that will assist Brookline individuals and families thrive.
  3. To continue to evaluate, monitor and modify Town strategies designed to promote diversity in its workforce and Town boards/commissions.
  4. Meet with each Department to establish Diversity and Inclusion plans. 
  5. To have Town adopt a Data Management System that tracks the Diversity of vendors and contractors used by the Town.
  6. In conjunction with Town Departments and community partners, develop and implement a community engagement process.
  7. To collaborate with the Small Business Development Committee and Community Planning and Development Department on initiatives to support women and minority-owned businesses.
  8. To address ADA action plan items.
  9. Implement action items provided by the Diversity Consultant as warranted.
  10. To coordinate with HR to implement a Worker Satisfaction Survey.
FY20 Accomplishments
  1. Collaborate with local agencies to create and commence the Annual Youth Awards event. 
  2. Created an informational video and held related events to promote fair housing awareness.
  3. Continued to collaborate with Town agencies and departments through the Brookline Domestic Violence Roundtable to commence domestic violence awareness campaigns and programs through a Domestic Violence Vigil, Domestic Abuse Workshop, and new written resources and materials. 
  4. Assisted the Commission for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations to monitor employment trends as they relate to diversity and inclusion and began addressing the strengths and weaknesses of Town Departments.
  5. Organized five job fair events in collaboration with Human Resources.
  6. Collaborated with the Health Department to create and implement a three series forum on Racism as a Public Health Issue.
  7. On boarded a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant to begin equity assessments of Town Departments.
  8. Two DICR staff completed Mediation training in October 2019.
  9. Received and addressed 17 ADA complaints from Brookline residents.
  10. Collaborated with the Economic and Community Development Department to provide a Business Access In-Service and other resources with the intention of increasing physical access and inclusions in local businesses.