Priority Action Item - Minority Inclusion

Minority Inclusionminority inclusion graphic

Objective

Lead by example through the adoption of city-wide and departmental inclusion strategies focusing on a diverse pool of applicants for employment, committees, and boards. 

Note: This was also a 2021 City Commission Priority.

Key Team Member

Human Resources Director Stefanie Wilcox

Expectations

  • Team Paducah (departments, Leadership Team, Boards and Commissions) are representative of the community's demographics through attrition and inclusion based hiring tactics
  • Increase awareness of City career opportunities through the presence in schools and at community events
  • Continue to support the Paducah Diversity Advisory Board  

Accomplishments - 2021 to present

Reflection of Community  Created an internal dashboard of the City’s employee demographics with a goal of updating quarterly to measure how closely we reflect the City’s demographics.

Inclusive Recruiting  Focusing on inclusive recruitment processes by assembling a list of local minority groups for job announcements, posting positions on national minority professional associations, and working with the Leadership Team to break down barriers that exist to apply for city positions.  Example: The City held firefighter testing locally at no cost to the participants.

Training  Included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget was $20,000 for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training for all city employees. This training was held March 8-10, 2022, with a professional trainer.  Human Resources is working to determine the next training or engagement opportunity for staff.  

Engagement 

  • Mayor George Bray held several meetings with citizens to establish the structure, purpose, and bylaws of the Paducah Diversity Advisory Board. 
  • During the city manager recruitment process in June, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion community panel interviewed the city manager candidates.
  • Mayor Bray, a founding member of the Minority Entrepreneur/Small Business Roundtable, is involved with the promotion and success of minority businesses.
  • Several City departments participated in WKY Launch Experience in March 2022 which provided an opportunity to share career and educational opportunities with approximately 800 eighth grade students.

Paducah Diversity Advisory Board  The City worked with citizens to establish the structure, purpose, and bylaws of the Paducah Diversity Advisory Board.  The Board began meeting monthly in May 2021.  The Board is scheduled to present a community update at the May 9, 2022, meeting of the Paducah Board of Commissioners.

 

Commission Priorities

Read all Commission Priorities and Continuous Improvement Items including each action item's objective, key team members, and expectations by visiting Commission Priorities.