In a recent government meeting, city officials provided an extensive update on Portland's ongoing efforts to enhance justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion (JDEI) within municipal operations. The discussion centered on the implementation of recommendations from the Racial Equity Steering Committee report, which emphasizes the need for significant organizational changes both internally and externally.

Assistant City Manager Deana Libner highlighted the importance of aligning city policies with the council's goals, particularly in the realm of diversity and equity. The meeting underscored the city's commitment to institutionalizing JDEI work, moving beyond programmatic approaches to embedding these principles into the core functions of city operations.

A key focus was the establishment of the newly formed JDEI office, which was created with funding from the FY23 budget. The office is currently led by an interim director, with plans to appoint a permanent director imminently. Human Resources Director Antora Grossa indicated that the search for this position is set to begin shortly, with hopes of filling it by mid-fall.

The meeting also detailed a cultural assessment initiated last fall, aimed at gathering data on city staff demographics and values. This assessment will inform a strategic planning process to unify the city’s mission and values, with equity as a central theme. The city has engaged with the YWCA of Maine to facilitate this process, ensuring anonymity for participants.

Additionally, Portland has joined the Municipality Bond Markets Racial Equity program, which aims to integrate equity into the city's financial operations. This initiative will involve collaboration with financial professionals to enhance equity considerations in capital improvement projects and budgeting processes.

Overall, the meeting reflected Portland's proactive approach to embedding equity into its governance and operational frameworks, signaling a commitment to fostering a more inclusive city environment.