Ann Arbor City Council
voted 10-1 Tuesday to approve
a two-year contract with
SDS Global Enterprises Inc.
to provide diversity, equity
and
inclusion
consulting.
Councilmember Jeff Hayner,
D-Ward 1, was opposed.
SDS
Global
Enterprises
Inc. was deemed to be the
most qualified in assisting
the
development
of
the
city’s diversity, equity and
inclusion plan and complies
with the requirements of the
city’s non-discrimination and
living wage ordinances.
SDS
Global
Enterprises
Inc. is run by Dr. Shirley
Davis, a leadership counselor
and
experienced
diversity
and
inclusion
officer.
According to SDS’ website, it
is a “woman and minority-
owned
C-Corporation
that
provides
strategic
development solutions that
enable organizational leaders
to build high performing and
inclusive cultures that thrive
in a competitive and changing
environment.”
Sharie Sell is the city of
Ann Arbor’s diversity, equity
and inclusion officer. She
said the eventual diversity,
equity and inclusion plan
will provide guidance and
ensure the city facilities are
inclusive.
“The consultant will assist
the City by advising on the best
way to set up a sustainable,
comprehensive
Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion Plan
that
is
organizationally
transformative,”
Sell
wrote to The Daily in an
email interview. “One that
addresses
racial,
gender,
identity, age, and economic
inequities and disparities in
the delivery of services.”
For the first year of services,
the
consulting
agency
is
expected to review the city’s
employee
demographic
data. They will also conduct
cultural
assessments,
focus
groups,
one-on-one
stakeholder interviews and a
staff survey. The survey will
attempt to identify trends
and deficiencies in hiring
practices.
The
second
year
plan
includes
helping
the
city
develop a long term plan
for
diversity,
equity
and
inclusion,
while
holding
strategic planning sessions
with key stakeholders.
One of the agency’s tasks
will
be
developing
and
executing
a
training
and
education strategy to
increase
awareness,
knowledge and skills for
700-plus city staffers,
councilmembers
and
members of city boards
and commissions as it
pertains to diversity,
equity and inclusion.
The $161,000 budget
has
created
a
stir
among
community
members
who
think
the
expenditure
is
too
much.
Hayner
explained he opposed
the proposal because of
the cost.
“I do not think the
benefits to be derived
from the service are
worth the rate charged.
We have many needs
as a city and $450/
hour consulting fees for
undefined HR problems
is not one of them,”
Hayner wrote to The
Daily.
Hayner said he has
received requests from
people seeking legal aid
around housing issues,
specifically
from
students
and seniors.
“That’s a real need in or
community and it involves
equity and diversity,” Hayner
wrote. “There have not been
to my knowledge any requests
from staff for this (DEI)
training, this is simply a way
to fulfill our promises to the
One Community Initiative.”
LSA
junior
Bridget
Corwin is spearheading DEI
efforts for the University
of
Michigan
organization
WeListen. Corwin said that
she would be willing to
pay for funding that helps
progress DEI objectives in
her organizations and her
government.
“It’s
everyone’s
responsibility to create a
culture that values diversity
and
inclusion,”
Corwin
said.“The reality is that our
culture
does
not
always
value these things, leading to
systemic issues like racism,
classism, ableism, etc. which
unjustly
disenfranchises
so many people. I would be
willing to pay a tax that could
help move a city, state, or
country in a positive cultural
direction
through
DEI
initiatives.”
S U PE R S M A S H B ROS TOU RNAME NT
2 — Tuesday, September 10, 2019
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com
News
RYAN MCLOUGHLIN/Daily
Students gather for the Ann Arbor Melee Club’s first Super Smash Brothers Melee tournament of the year in Rackham Monday evening.
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Ann Arbor Council approved two-year contract to provide guidance in development of plan
to ensure community inclusiveness through cultural assessments, focus groups, surveys
City officals vote to hire DEI consultant
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The reality is
that our culture
does not always
value these
things, leading to
systemic issues
like racism.
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