Objective - Minority Inclusion
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 and 2022 City Commission Priority.
Key Department
Human Resources
Minority Inclusion Priority Details
- Expectations and Tactics
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- Continue to support the Paducah Diversity Advisory Board.
- Repopulate the Human Rights Commission and provide appropriate staff support.
- Implement an employee-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion survey with Murray State University and use the results to set goals and training for the city organization.
- Coordinate with the Paducah Board of Commissioners to adopt a Diversity Statement.
- Accomplishments - 2021 to present
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Award The Paducah Board of Commissioners received in November 2022 at the Paducah/McCracken County NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Banquet the Fred Paxton Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizing the City’s focus on diversity and inclusion strategies and awareness.
Demographics - 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. Human Resources also is working with Murray State University to create an assessment focused on DE&I for the City government. Murray State will administer the survey and collect the data in early 2023.
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 2021, 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.
- City sponsored and partnered with the Paducah-McCracken County NAACP and the Carson Center the first-ever Juneteenth Celebration in 2022. City also co-sponsored the August 8th Celebration and participated in the parade.
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.
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 presented a community update at the May 9, 2022, meeting of the Paducah Board of Commissioners.
Training Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training for all city employees was held March 8-10, 2022, with a professional trainer. Human Resources is working with the Paducah Diversity Advisory Board and other HR professionals to determine the next training or engagement opportunity.
Commission Priorities
Read all Commission Priorities and Continuous Improvement Items including each action item's objective, key department, and expectations by visiting Commission Priorities.
