We’re In This Together
CCM Committees build on essential work towards equity in CT
W
hen the website FiveThirtyEight.com sought to find the most representative metro area in America, based on age, educational attainment, and race and ethnicity, they were surprised to find that New Haven topped that list and Hartford placed third. This did not come as a surprise to CCM whose members comprised of “municipal officials representing a diverse group of individuals, including those from different races, ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic statuses, political and religious backgrounds, genders, gender identities and expressions, and sexual orientations and people with disabilities.” That quote is taken from the first line of the CCM Board Committee on Inclusion’s mission statement. Founded in 2020 as part of a long-standing plan to invest in racial equity initiatives, the committee expands on the work that was already being done and cements its place as a pillar of CCM’s goal to improve the everyday life of every citizen of Connecticut. Anchored by its founding members; Susan Bransfield, First Selectman of Portland as Chair, and Laura Hoydick, Mayor of Stratford; Scott Shanley, Town Manager of Manchester; Kevin Alvarez, Director of Legislative Affairs, New Haven; and Walter Morton, Director of Legislative Affairs, Hamden; the committee drafted and approved their mission statement in concert with work already being done by the executive branch with the aid of Richard Porth, the Special Projects Coordinator. From that mission statement, they declare that they will work “to foster a culture and atmosphere of mutual respect and inclusion in communities throughout the State, and at CCM,” add that “inclusive policies and practices will help us better represent the communities we serve, more fully engage all parts of our community in the work of strengthening our municipalities, and promote innovative work that reflects the diversity of thought in our communities.” This work has already begun with CCM CARES and Representation Matters, both of which served to spark those discussions that had begun in our towns and cities this summer during the Black Lives Matters demonstrations that took place after the murders of individuals like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Conversations are crucial first steps on the road to racial equity, and the Committee’s mission statement includes the work that will take place based on what we learned in those discussions. Documents like the Racial Equity Toolkit and Checklist will provide towns and cities how to operationalize those best practices. CCM’s focus isn’t a one-way road, and a large part of this committee’s work is to provide guidance to CCM’s staff regarding racial equity and inclusion trainings for CCM members, but also to work with the CCM Staff Inclusion Committee. The committee is itself working on a mission statement, aiming to make sure that the organization is functioning in unison with the efforts of the Board Committee, and to make sure that CCM itself is an equitable workplace. The most crucial aspect of this work is that it is not seen as a one-time reaction to the moment, and efforts are in place to make sure that this work is continued throughout this year and beyond. Plans are in place to undertake a survey on equity and diversity in our towns and cities to learn where are needs are most crucial and find areas where we are already succeeding. Consistent messaging, updated toolkits, key partnerships, and more are planned to provide our members with all the tools and resources they need to enrich their equity actions and achieve goals. And because of the overwhelming positive responses to both CCM CARES and Representation Matters, the board and staff are exploring how to hold these events in a post-COVID future that will allow for in-person events. While the New Haven and Hartford metro areas might be some of the most representative counties in America, Connecticut as a whole is still the most diverse state in New England and one of the most diverse states in the country. The Board Inclusion Committee and the Staff Inclusion Committee, the ongoing work and the work that’s already been done is the culmination of an understanding that we are all in this together. That when CCM fights to improve the everyday life of every citizen in Connecticut that it truly means every citizen in Connecticut.
SPECIAL ISSUE 2021 | CONNECTICUT TOWN & CITY | 9
