Chief Equity Officer

&

Equity Perspective

December 10, 2019

Presenter

Alexis Blackwell, Director of HR

Purpose & Discussion

Chief Equity Officer Position

• Current climate

• Outcomes sought

• Equity Perspective

• Conclusion

Current Climate

Goals1

• Economic Development & Supportive Services

• Institutional Governance and Policy

• Environment

• Education

• Qualify of Life

Priorities

• Diversity

• Cultural competency

Slide 4

Current Climate

County Demographics 2010-20172

60% people of color

• 20% overall increase in the population of people

of color

• Disaggregated increase by population

• 33% Latinx

• 18% Asian

• 16% Black or African American

Slide 5

Current Climate

County Demographics

Poverty rate2

• 7.7% of all residents

• 9.5% of Black or African American residents

• 11.5% of Latinx residents

• 17% of female headed households

Current ClimateCounty Government Staff Utilization

• Officials & Administrators

• White females: -11%

• Technical

• African American females: -16%

• Administrative support

• White males: -14%

• African American males: -10%

• African American females: -4%

Current ClimateCounty Government Staff Utilization

• Skilled craft

• Latino males: -10%

Outcomes Sought

Diversity is being invited to the party.

Inclusion is being asked to dance.

Equity is playing the right music

so everyone will want to dance, and

no one has to wait to be asked.

Outcomes Sought

Outcomes Sought

Applying an Equity Perspective to

Goals

• Economic Development & Supportive Services

• Commercial Development

• Infrastructure

• Institutional Governance and Policy

• Operational excellence

• Public policy

Equity Perspective

Racial Equity Training

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

(MWCOG) and Government Alliance on Race &

Equity (GARE)

• GARE is a “national network of government

working to achieve racial equity and advance

opportunities for all”3

• 2019 COG Racial Equity Learning Year Cohort

Equity Perspective

Racial Equity Tool7

1. Proposal

2. Data

3. Community engagement

4. Analysis and strategies

5. Implementation

6. Accountability and communication

Equity Perspective

Chief Equity Officer

Signs it’s time to hire a Chief Equity Officer4

• People at a disadvantage are left behind

• Racism, health inequities, complaints of under

representation

• Lack of understanding of equity and inclusion

Equity Perspective

Role of Chief Equity Officer

• Champion equity as a shared value

• Technical expert in addressing equity

Summary of Position

• Reports to County Administrator

• Member of Executive Leadership Team

• Directs, administers and facilitates

Countywide equity programs

Equity Perspective

Background of Chief Equity Officer

1. Degree in sociology, education, public

administration, ethics studies, social work

2. 5 years demonstrated success in community,

education or social justice programs addressing

elimination of structural racism

3. 2 years in a relevant managerial or program

administration capacity

Conclusion

Summary

• Current climate

• Growth and demographic change

• Inequities experienced as a result of growth

• Outcomes sought

• Ability to apply racial equity tools to policies,

programs, and budget decisions to ensure equitable

outcomes for all

• Equity Perspective

• Equity work & Chief Equity Officer position

Key Resources1. Charles County Workforce Study

https://www.meetcharlescounty.com/clientuploads/Fall%20

Meeting%202018/Charles_County_Commuter_Survey_Re

port_Final_6.27.2018.pdf

2. 2018 Maryland Poverty Profiles

https://mda.maryland.gov/about_mda/Documents/SNAB/M

aryland-Poverty-Profiles_2018_1-15-2018_T.pdf

3. Government Alliance on Race & Equity

https://www.racialequityalliance.org/

4. Is it Time to hire a Chief Equity Officer

https://icma.org/blog-posts/it-time-hire-chief-equity-officer

5. US Census Bureau Quick Facts, Charles County, MD

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/charlescountymaryland

Key Resources, Cont’d6. Goal Setting with Charles County Commissioners

https://www.boarddocs.com/md/chrlsco/Board.nsf/files/BA

HSE56EF5CE/%24file/FINAL%20for%203.26.19%20Sessi

on%20%20Charles%20County%20Goal%20Setting%20Se

ssion%20-%202.26.19.pdf

7. Racial Equity Toolkit

https://www.racialequityalliance.org/wp-

content/uploads/2015/10/GARE-Racial_Equity_Toolkit.pdf

Presented By:

Charles County Government

Department of Human Resources301-645-0585

200 Baltimore Street

La Plata, MD 20646MD Relay Service: 7-1-1

Equal Opportunity EmployerIt is the policy of Charles County to provide equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of race,

color, sex, age, national origin, religious or political affiliation or opinion, disability, marital status, sexual

orientation, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other status protected by law.

www.CharlesCountyMD.gov