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Rockville council backs JEDI strategic-plan engagement framework; consultants to begin staff survey
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Summary
The council endorsed the proposed assessment and outreach framework for a citywide JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) strategic plan and asked staff and consultants to proceed with surveys, focus groups and community outreach beginning in mid-March.
Jean Booth, director of the city’s JEDI office, and Dr. Patricia Morgan of the Executive Learning Lab presented a proposed JEDI strategic-plan process that includes an organizational assessment, policy review and a community engagement program with internal staff surveys and 12 focus-group types for staff and external stakeholders.
Dr. Morgan, the consultant leading the work, said the approach will use quantitative and qualitative methods and that the staff survey platform will allow data disaggregation by demographic groups: “We are using Sawtooth software and we'll be able to disaggregate the data, by multiple identity groups.”
The presentation outlined four core engagement themes—awareness of JEDI principles, effectiveness and impact of existing practices, leadership confidence and preparedness, and personal experience of belonging and equity—and said the plan will include measurable performance metrics and a 1-year roadmap within a 5-year strategy. The city seeks to protect participant privacy and will offer virtual or in-person formats and language access where needed.
Council members asked detailed questions about using existing surveys and baseline reports, how the consultants would reach historically disengaged residents and service-dependent populations, translation and language access, and how findings will translate into policy or budget actions. Booth and Dr. Morgan said they have compiled prior surveys and resolutions for comparison, will coordinate with the Communications and Community Engagement office, and plan to launch the internal staff survey around March 16 with a May 11 interim update and a mid-June presentation of the draft plan.
Council members gave unanimous verbal support to the three requested feedback items: approval of the assessment and engagement framework, support for the proposed community sectors to be engaged, and support for the four JEDI engagement focus areas. Several members volunteered to help staff reach historically marginalized groups and suggested additional external partners, including neighborhood organizations, the youth commission and education partners.
Next steps are finalizing survey questions, beginning staff data collection, and scheduling the mayor-and-council check-in dates in May and June.
