The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Illinois City/County Management Association partnered with the UIC Great Cities Institute to provide support to municipalities interested in operationalizing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their municipalities.

About the Program

This pilot was designed by municipalities, for municipalities. Over the past few years, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, ILCMA, and UIC Great Cities have worked closely with elected officials and municipal staff from across the Chicago region and state of Illinois to better understand the unique challenges faced by small- to mid-sized municipalities interested in pursuing this work. Members of the MMC DEI Working Group and ILCMA Diversity and Inclusion Committee played an active role in advising the creation of this pilot.

Program Partners

Program Design & Structure

This 6-month pilot provided ongoing training, coaching, and peer support to a cohort of 14 municipalities. Each month (or cycle) of the pilot will involved one in-person training session held at the Northern Illinois University Naperville campus. The monthly in-person trainings were followed by two weeks of independent work on a project unique to each participating community. The final week of the cycle involves a small-group coaching session with an experienced coach. Participants will be expected to attend all sessions.

Learning Outcomes

Participants learned the principles of racial equity driven organizational change and how to apply disciplined, practical approaches to incorporate equity into management and leadership decision-making processes unique to their community. The program curriculum focused on internal organizational practices including performance management, internal communications, human resources, and finance. These focus areas are elaborated below:

  • Performance Management

    • Establishing systems to collect relevant DEI data
    • Identifying analytic tools and metrics to track and measure DEI progress, outcomes, and impact across different departments
    • Establishing accountability mechanisms to increase and sustain DEI outcomes
    • Conducting an audit of policies, procedures, and practices
    • Conducting an audit of social service gaps within the organization and more broadly in the community
    • Assessing customer service practices within the organization for their impact on community equity and access

  • Internal Communications

    • Developing functional interdepartmental working groups focused on DEI
    • Conducting an internal staff survey and staff focus groups to assess internal organizational culture
    • Facilitation practices for productive community engagement

  • Human Resources

    • Analyzing staff demographic data, retention, and promotion statistics
    • Reviewing hiring and recruitment practices

  • Financial Management

    • Incorporating participatory budgeting into annual budgeting process
    • Assessing procurement and purchasing practices

Participant Eligibility

Municipal governments from across the state of Illinois are eligible to apply. Organizations interested in applying must designate two senior-level staff persons from separate departments within the municipality or separate government entities in the community (such as a representative from the municipality + school district, library, township, etc.). If a municipality would like to elect two senior-level individuals from the same department, these individuals should be able to demonstrate that they are committed to an organization-wide or community-wide participation in the pilot. Participants should have decision-making authority and influence within their organization, such as department heads or managers.

Resources