Executive Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Kevin Lovaincy, Chief Equity Officer

Top Services

About

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is a top priority for the City of Worcester, and its mission is to cultivate a workplace environment reflective of the Worcester community with a culture of service, respect and accountability.

The Executive Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (EODEI) seeks to implement the City's DEI mission and is dedicated to recruiting, hiring, including, developing, retaining, engaging and motivating a diverse, high-performing and thriving workforce, where all feel welcome. This will be accomplished through a framework centered around the following commitments set forth by City Manager Eric D. Batista's administration:

• Accelerating representation within City workforce and leadership
• Increasing access to opportunities through an equitable hiring process
• Providing DEI trainings and professional development opportunities
• Fostering an environment where people with disabilities are included, empowered and have access to support
• Advancing equal pay for equal work
• Ensuring diverse vendors have equal opportunity to conduct business with the City

In 2023, the EODEI's leadership and cabinet-level position was renamed from Chief Diversity Officer to Chief Equity Officer to better reflect its greater mission. In addition, the Human Rights, Investigations and Training & Development divisions were transitioned to the EODEI, along with the Human Rights Commission, Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, Accessibility Advisory Committee and a newly created Advisory Committee on Latino Affairs.

2025 Woman & Young Woman of Consequence Award Nominations

This is a call for nominations for the annual City of Worcester Empathy in Action Woman & Young Woman of Consequence Award Nominations, presented by the City of Worcester Advisory Committee on the Status of Women. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on May 15, 2025.

Learn More

Commitment to Growth

• Framework for achieving diversity, equity and inclusion for City government
• Executive Order to Assess and Address Structural and Institutional Racism
• Racial Equity Audit Report Memo
• Racial Equity Audit Final Report

Taking Action

Based on the results of independent consultant Letterman White LLC's Racial Equity Audit Report, completed in September 2022, City Manager Eric Batista is taking the following steps:

• Hosted virtual Town Halls for city employees at all levels of government to share their questions and concerns about the Report with the City Manager.
• Collaborated with the administration's Cabinet to establish a 5th priority in the City's Strategic Plan that establishes a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mission, vision, goals, objectives and metrics.
• Worked with the Human Resources Department to further standardize and centralize the hiring process for City jobs.
• Worked with Letterman White LLC to establish an implementation plan for breaking down barriers to change, including the establishment of a disaggregate data collection system that will allow the City to measure its progress in diversifying the City workforce.
• Worked with department heads to establish clear DEI goals within their Departmental Development Plans that were submitted as part of the Fiscal 2024 budget process.
• Removed the requirement that physicals and drug tests are required for all candidates who have accepted job offers to reduce the barriers to employment. The requirement will remain in place for certain positions.
• Changed the parking policy so that employees who work at downtown City offices no longer need to pay for monthly parking passes in City garages and lots to reduce barriers to employment and increase employee retention.

Programs & Initiatives