NLC REPORT: National Resource for Municipal DEI Efforts: ICMA Equity & Inclusion Toolkit
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The information contained in this article is not intended as legal advice and may no longer be accurate due to changes in the law. Consult NHMA's legal services or your municipal attorney.
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is an association representing professionals working in local government management. To support member engagement on issues related to equity, systemic racism, and social justice, ICMA develops and promotes programs and initiatives in all areas of service delivery, hiring practices, leadership development, community engagement, and workplace culture.
During the ICMA strategic planning process, ICMA members noted that now, more than ever, local government professionals are called upon to integrate equitable public service to rapidly diversifying communities. Local governments must consider issues of equity and inclusion that go beyond race, ethnicity, and gender and include variations in age, sexual orientation, ability, economic status, educational attainment, immigration levels, and community size.
The ICMA Task Force on Strengthening Inclusiveness in the Profession and the Task Force on Women in the Profession recommended the creation of this toolkit to equip local governments with strategies and leading practices that are used in communities across the United States and abroad, along with corresponding resources that can be replicated in other communities.
The appendices include an overview of local government and ICMA member diversity, profiles of the communities cited, a list of organizations actively involved in promoting equity and inclusion in government, additional resources, and a glossary of terms useful for individuals and communities when working on these issues.
This toolkit was designed to provide current and future local government leaders with an additional capacity to ensure that they continue to work toward building equitable and inclusive organizations and communities.
Highlighted Resources:
This toolkit equips local governments with strategies and leading practices that are used in communities across the United States and abroad, along with corresponding resources that can be replicated in other communities. Based on the strategies identified in the toolkit, ICMA provides a set of key recommendations: (1) Consider the Impact; (2) Build Trust-based Relationships; (3) Review Current Policies; (4) Adopt Equitable Compensation Practices; (5) Establish Training Programs; (6) Discover Leaders; (7) Focus on Goals; (8) Make Small Gestures; (9) Communicate Effectively; (10) Engage Existing Staff; and (11) Be Conscious of Bias in Hiring Practices.
This glossary is a tool for understanding common expressions related to race, equity, and social justice.
Source: DEI Resources for Municipal Governments, https://mayorscaucus.org/initiatives/diversity/dei-resources-for-municipal-governments/.