Chief Equity Officer Role Created For City Of St. Petersburg

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The city of St. Petersburg is hiring for a new position: chief equity officer.

Mayor Kenneth T. Welch created the position to support his administration’s focus on “inclusive progress,” according to a news release from the city. The role is a response to the Structural Racism Study conducted by the city in 2021.

The study, led by the University of South Florida in partnership with several community members, was commissioned by the city to examine both the historical and modern-day impact that structural racism has had on the lives of Black people in St. Petersburg, the city said.

The new chief equity officer will be a member of the mayor’s cabinet and will report directly to the mayor’s chief of staff, Jordan “Doyle” Walsh.

"Intentional equity and inclusive progress are foundational to my administration," Welch said. "The chief equity officer will be a key member of my leadership team who will ensure that equity and inclusion are fully integrated into city government policies, procedures, and practices. An accountable and responsive government is only possible when our commitment to equity is shown, not just through words, but through action."

The chief equity officer will have "oversight and direction over the city’s efforts to advance racial equity and inclusion within city government in collaboration with community stakeholders,” the city said.

Learn more about the position here.