Embracing All Voices

As we foster our growing community, City staff prioritize making public engagement a vital element in our decision-making processes. We employ a human-centered, equity-focused approach to grow as an inclusive city government that celebrates diverse voices, ensuring no one group is favored over another.

We work to help those who might face challenges when using services or sharing their opinions. This is an important aspect of equitable engagement in city government. The examples shared here illustrate the City’s journey toward a more connected and engaged community, where all residents can feel a sense of belonging.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts

The City of Cedar Rapids has advanced diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DE&I) efforts for many years. We took a significant step in this work by appointing a dedicated DE&I manager in 2021. Initiatives target four key action areas intending to create a sense of belonging for everyone in Cedar Rapids. All City departments actively contribute, fostering a teamwork culture focused on growing as a community where all can feel that “Welcome is Our Language.”

WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

Recruiting and retaining a workforce that reflects our community’s diversity and meets its needs across all organizational levels.

EQUITABLE SYSTEMS

Building structures that support and sustain fair and equal opportunities to guide public and organizational policies and practices.

INCLUSIVE CULTURE

Fostering organizational inclusion and collaboration by purposefully integrating DE&I values in our Organizational Health culture.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Creating meaningful opportunities for informed resident involvement in City decision making and increased understanding of City operations.

Equitable Engagement Toolkit

Building an “Equitable Engagement Toolkit” is one of the action items identified in the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP). To achieve the CCAP’s 2030 vision of empowering community members to play an active role in plan implementation, the toolkit will align with specific CCAP principles to ensure a focused and equitable approach.

Recognizing the historical absence and exclusion of marginalized community members in government discourse, decision-making, and implementation, the toolkit will address these disparities head-on. Currently under development, the toolkit will enhance targeted and meaningful engagement with under-resourced residents, providing City staff essential information to plan for effective participation.

THE TOOLKIT INCLUDES:

• Checklists for Meaningful & Equitable Community Engagement

• Guide for Effectively Communicating with Residents About City Work in Neighborhoods

• Community Analyst Mapping Tool to identify community resources and demographics

• Language Access Policies and Procedures

• Standardized Demographic Survey to collect accurate diversity data and review in our outreach planning

• Equitable Engagement Examples and Case Studies

Climate Action Plan

Approved by the City Council in 2021, the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP) addresses climate challenges while prioritizing community needs. The City emphasized equitable and inclusive engagement and outreach while building the plan. The planning process included a series of surveys, focus groups, and direct outreach to populations which may otherwise be underrepresented in plans — and who are likely to suffer greater climate-related hardships. This outreach prioritized input from populations classified as vulnerable by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The equitable process aligned with the goals of the Council’s Climate Resolution to engage residents in determining climate challenges and solutions in their neighborhoods. The resulting CCAP centers equity and community strengths across 24 actions meant to reduce greenhouse gases, build resilience to climate hazards, and support access to basic needs for all residents.