BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Office of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Annual Board Update 2021.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Receive the annual update on activities in the Office of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI).
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SUMMARY:
The Office of REDI was created in July 2020 under the External Affairs Division and includes the integration of the previous Diversity and Inclusion Program. All efforts of the Office of REDI are designed to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in partnership with staff and external stakeholders, consistent with Santa Clara Valley Water District's (Valley Water) core values and the principles used in accomplishing Valley Water's mission. The new office's expanded goal includes strengthening and expanding Valley Water's ability to effectively deliver equitable services and to attract, retain and promote a diverse and talented workforce. The Office of REDI works to ensure that racial equity, diversity, and inclusion practices are all equally reflected both internally and externally to better serve all communities that Valley Water serves.
This first annual report on activities in the Office of REDI highlights efforts taken over the last year, since the inception of the Office of REDI in July 2020, within six major categories: Resolutions and Statements, Environmental Justice, Cultural Events/Speakers Panels, ERG Guidance and Support, Trainings in Diversity and Inclusion and Unconscious Bias, and the Equity Assessment and Strategic Master Plan.
RESOLUTIONS AND STATEMENTS:
Since the Office of REDI was created, REDI staff developed several resolutions and statements to establish a new framework for Valley Water's response to individual and systemic racism and its commitment to taking meaningful action, internally and externally, to address the impacts of acts of prejudice, abuse of power, racial bias, gender or gender identity bias, racism, and barriers to diversity, equity, ...
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