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WDIC and Team JEDI discuss coordination, onboarding and a climate survey as priorities for 2025
Summary
Team JEDI updated WDIC on outreach, peer learning and planning for a GARE meeting in October; WDIC members discussed onboarding, a narrower set of 2025 goals and an independent climate survey for 2026.
Rachel Graham, deputy county clerk and chair of Team JEDI, updated the Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Committee on Team JEDI activity and led discussion on how the two groups should coordinate moving forward.
Graham reported Team JEDI continues work on a marketing campaign, an "Equity & Diversity" video, department‑targeted reading and discussion groups and a steering committee to host a Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) local meeting in October. She also noted Team JEDI is working on the micro‑grant process described by Charlene Holmes.
The committee then held a wide discussion about the WDIC–JEDI relationship, committee structure and priorities for 2025. Veronica Pillar read the committee’s current purpose from the bylaws and participants asked whether WDIC bylaws and membership language should be updated to reflect current DEI work. Members noted Team JEDI is staff‑only and meets outside public meeting rules, while WDIC is a public advisory committee with voting members that include legislators and community appointees.
Members proposed several near‑term priorities: develop a concise onboarding packet for new members and, where appropriate, a mentorship or buddy system; narrow WDIC’s annual goals to a small number that tie to the county strategic plan and the Institutionalizing Equity report; support selection or oversight of the planned 2026 climate survey and advocate for an independent vendor to preserve respondent anonymity; and reconstitute the committee process for the long‑paused diversity award.
Several members stressed implementation and follow‑through. One committee member warned that climate surveys done previously identified recurring issues and asked how the county will ensure those areas receive corrective action rather than repeat the same results. Members suggested WDIC help to prepare an RFP or select a contractor for the 2026 climate survey and to create a clear process for departments to present their equity indicators to the committee.
Veronica Pillar and other members also noted that the committee will face a changing legislative membership later in the year and that onboarding and clear process documentation will help continuity.
Team JEDI and WDIC agreed to continue the conversation and to develop a short list of focused goals for formal adoption at a future meeting.
