Durham is the fifth largest City in the state of North Carolina, with a population of just over 230,000. The City of Durham (COD) operates under a City Council/City Manager form of government and has more than 2,500 employees who are committed to working diligently to make Durham a great place to live, work, and play!
Strategic goals of the COD include:
- A strong and diverse economy
- Safe and secure communities
- Thriving, livable neighborhoods
- Innovative and high Performing Organization
- Stewardship of City’s Physical and Environmental Assets
These goals are aimed at maintaining a diverse and equitable community where citizens benefit equitably from all that the City has to offer.
In the fall of 2016, Durham City Council members and the Durham City Manager attended a two-day Racial Equity (phase I) workshop. Today, all Senior Executives, Directors, Assistant Directors, and approximately 40 non-management employees have attended phase I workshops. The training has included government employees (City and County) as well as individuals from agencies that serve the community. An additional 150 employees will attend Racial Equity training over the next six months. These individuals will help to formulate the City’s racial equity agenda as well as apply a racial equity lens to the organization and manner in which services are delivered to citizens.
As of Fall 2018, plans are currently underway to put an Equity Manager in place to facilitate the establishment of a
racial equity task force and development of a racial equity agenda, in fiscal 2019. In the interim, a number of projects are underway aimed at advancing a racial equity agenda including a Living Wage Initiative, Amnesty for Traffic Offenses and a Justice Involved Citizens Project.
We are excited about our affiliation with GARE and look forward to learning with, and from, other government entities committed to advancing a racial equity agenda.