Residents and council split on Woonsocket 'WEDI' advisory board name and role

Public comment and a later council exchange on Feb. 3 focused on the city’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion advisory board — referred to in council discussion as WEDI (Woonsocket Equity, Diversity and Inclusion).

Several public speakers urged the council to drop the DEI acronym or disband the advisory board. Gregory Duhamel told the council he had been interrupted in a phone call when he tried to discuss the board and asserted the committee’s work had produced "useless spending" and "reverse racism" claims; Arthur Roy, chair of the Woonsocket Republican City Committee, urged the council to “focus on who's the best person for the job.”

Council members defended the advisory board’s work and in-council nominations. Councilwoman Valerie Gonzales said the board had produced cost savings and identified human-resources issues that could have led to fines or lawsuits. Councilwoman Harmon, a former advisory-board member, said the committee helped the city address discrimination and bring people together. Councilwoman Fox opposed changing the name, saying acronyms have repeatedly been targets of controversy and that the substance of the work matters more than the label.

Councilwoman Gonzales offered to explore a name change to a less-charged label such as "Opportunity for All Committee" and said she would bring a proposal back to the council. The council ultimately received the nominations for the advisory board and placed the item on file unanimously.

Ending: Council members said they would continue to discuss the advisory board’s branding and work; Gonzales said she would reach out to colleagues to find consensus on a name change as needed.