Worcester Plans 'Unvarnished' Review Over Hiring Diversity Chief

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester will likely seek outside help in hiring for a city position that oversees diversity and equity following the resignation of Stephanie Williams — Worcester's third chief diversity officer since the position was created in 2016.

In an order, At-Large Councilor Thu Nguyen asked City Manager Ed Augustus Jr. to consider hiring a consultant to assess issues related to attracting a chief diversity officer who will spend more than two years in the role.

The consultant would review, "What the position needs to be successful including metrics, short term and long term goals and growth of the position, potential challenges, what resources they need to be effective, and a power analysis of the position." The order also asks for "action items and best practices for the city to recruit, create career pathways, and retain BIPOC employees."

Nguyen, the first Vietnamese Worcester councilor, and the first nonbinary councilor in the state, pointed to a statement Williams released about her departure last week as evidence that the city needs a deeper review. In it, Williams alluded to a "disconnect" in city government preventing progress on diversity issues. Nguyen said Worcester needs to find out why that disconnect exists so that the city's next diversity officer can be successful.

"I want a government in Worcester that reflects the people I know and love," they said.

In response to the order, Augustus said he's in favor of hiring an outside consultant for an "unvarnished" review of the diversity officer job. He compared it to a recent outside review of the inner workings of the fire department. The 250-page report released in September highlighted multiple problems inside the department that may have led to several recent line-of-duty deaths.

"I'm very much committed, and my administration is committed, to having this be successful," he said.

The chief diversity officer oversees "recruiting, hiring, including, developing, retaining, engaging and motivating a diverse, results-oriented, high-performing workforce." Worcester has increased the number of nonwhite employees over the past decade, but the number of is out of balance with Worcester's larger demographics. People of color account for 318 of the city's 1,745 employees — or about 18 percent — and 31 percent of the city's residents are nonwhite.

Augustus said some of the "disconnects" Williams referred to in her statement have to do with how the city hires some employees. The police and fire departments, for example, still use the state civil service system.

The Worcester Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, which advises Augustus, voted in December to leave the civil service system. That committee met on Monday, and decided to effectively disband until further notice citing Williams' departure, and a lack of larger support from the city.

Assistant City Manager Eric Batista will take over for Williams after her last day on March 18.