DEI Coalition outlines 2024 work; council leaves "city's response to systemic racism" in committee

Fairview Park — The Berry Park Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Coalition presented its 2024 accomplishments and 2025 outreach plans at a Fairview Park City Council committee meeting on April 28, 2025. The council voted to leave the city’s formal "response to systemic racism" in committee for further discussion; the motion passed 6-0.

The coalition’s presentation, led by Dr. Carolyn Vinniam, described DEI work organized around four pillars—education, empathy, engagement and accountability—and two subcommittees focused on community outreach and organizational practices. "The work that we do here is very, very important," Dr. Vinniam said when introducing the coalition’s programs.

Coalition members summarized 2024 activities including workshops on privilege, immigration history and oppression theory, a review of protected-class definitions, and suggested updates to city hiring guidance and job descriptions to conform with ADA and equal-opportunity principles. The coalition said it reviewed portions of the city code—employment and housing provisions dating back to 1972—and proposed updating language to reflect contemporary protected-class definitions such as age, ancestry, disability, gender identity, genetic information and HIV/AIDS status.

On outreach, the coalition said it plans to staff a table at the mayor’s state-of-the-city event and at Summerfest and to produce a city-centered resource brochure listing services such as senior programs, clinics, voting information and tenant resources. The coalition reported interviews with several department heads including the senior and Gemini center directors, the mayor and the police chief; it said it has not yet received information from the fire department and requested council assistance in obtaining that input.

Councilmembers asked procedural questions about how the coalition conducts interviews with department heads and how coalition recommendations would move into formal code changes. Councilmember Sarah said the presentation was "very informative" and asked whether the coalition provides questions in advance; coalition members said they supply questions when requested but generally allow department heads to tell their story first.

Councilmembers and the mayor asked the coalition to deliver specific, written recommendations when they are ready. A council member asked the coalition to send a written proposal to the council president and Councilmember Greenfield so council can consider any city-code language updates and, if needed, work with the law director to convert recommendations into legislation.

At the meeting’s close the council voted to leave the item "city's response to systemic racism" in committee for further consideration; votes recorded on the motion were Brian: yes; Troy: yes; Bill: yes; Sarah: yes; Bridgette: yes; Kim: yes (motion passes 6-0). The coalition was thanked for its presentation and told the council expects a narrower set of priorities (two or three items) to guide its work in 2025.

The committee meeting then moved on to finance business.