As cities reopened and employees started returning to the office, two city managers almost 300 miles apart had the same vision of providing essential diversity, equity and inclusion training for their cities. “The importance of offering diversity training to city employees was to help employees understand their differences, to improve employee collaboration and encourage them to find ways to work better together,” said Cartersville City Manager Dan Porta. Along with Porta, Garden City City Manager Ron Feldner reached out to GMA to provide some basic training to help employees recognize, accept and celebrate differences.
“Garden City believes very strongly as to the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion when it comes to creating a positive and supportive workplace environment for its city staff,” Feldner said. “We sought out this type of training in an effort to educate the city staff, and GMA was an excellent partner to assist us with this important exercise.”
GMA Director of Equity and Inclusion Freddie Broome provided in-person training for both cities centered around valuing differences, understanding equity, and creating an inclusive workplace and community where people want to work, live and play.
The training highlights the difference between internal, external, organizational, and worldview diversity. “Diversity means differences, and when individuals understand that we are all different, it creates a space of valuing differences and embracing equity and inclusion,” Broome said. “Diversity is everyone attending the community event, equity is making sure everyone has the same opportunities to observe and participate in the event, and inclusion ensures that everyone is included and has a sense of belonging during the event.”
Over 450 employees attended the training between the two cities. “At times, we forget that we are all on the same team; this reminds us to appreciate each other and be mindful of each other as we strive to serve in a complicated society,” said Cartersville Fire Chief Scott Carter.
The training concluded by showing a video of the importance of seeing equal, as hugs do not care who gives them, tears do not care who cries them, and love does not care who gives it.
“When seeing equal, individuals are more open to creating a space that values differences and fosters relationships,” Broome said. Cartersville Fire Sgt. Andrew Hornick saw the training as valuable for his city and beyond.
“This type of training seems to be overlooked,” Hornick said. “This class was a necessary puzzle piece for a successful relationship with others, outstanding presentation and delivery.”
This article was originally featured in the September/October 2021 edition of Georgia’s Cities Magazine.