TROY TODAY
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DIVERSITY TRAINING
TROY PRESENTS SEMINAR TO CITY OF DOTHAN EMPLOYEES Troy University’s Continuing Education and Outreach
have a tendency to categorize things that we don’t understand
presented a training seminar on diversity and unconscious bias
as being negative, but that’s not true.”
to all city of Dothan employees.
Dothan Police Chief Steve Parrish originally had the idea for
The classes were held at the Dothan Civic Center after
a diversity training session for his department, and TROY was
approval and funding from the Dothan City Commission.
a natural partner. “This is a journey that started about three
“People’s past experiences, their values, their beliefs shape
years ago when we were discussing the possibilities of doing
their thoughts,” said Laura Chambliss, Market Development
some multicultural training at the police department, and we
Manager for Continuing Education and Outreach. “If you can
did some of that in house. It was very successful, but it fell by
make them aware of those, it helps head off anything that
the wayside over time,” Parrish said. “Once the COVID-19 crisis
may come in the future. Originally, this course was aimed at
started, we’d already been talking with Troy University to do
law enforcement, but when the city of Dothan looked at the
some sensitivity and diversity training on a larger scale. We’ve
material, they said, ‘This is good for anybody.’ We’re training
used Mr. Jackson as an instructor on some multigenerational
1,000 people over a period of a few weeks.”
instruction at the police department in the past that was very
Michael Jackson, a retired Marine and 30-year Department of
informative and useful. This is career development, something
Corrections employee, led the sessions for TROY. “We’re trying
they can take with them in their careers and in their personal
to get them to see diversity is more than race and gender; it has
lives as well.”
to do with thought diversity and diversity of approach,” Jackson
Parrish said Dothan’s relationship with TROY continues to
said. “I’m hoping they walk away being more aware of being
reap benefits. “We have also worked with TROY on a previous
what we call ‘culturally competent’ and understanding that just
communitywide survey. I’m very proud of the relationship
because a person is different doesn’t make them wrong. We
we’ve forged with Troy University.”
