VLCT's Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Three-Year Strategic Plan outlines the actions the VLCT Board, Equity Committee, and staff plan to do in the short term, medium term, and long term. Each action item indicates the responsible party as well as the priority. This strategic plan was developed by VLCT's Equity Committee and approved by VLCT's Board of Directors on July 21, 2022.
| Pillar | Goal | # | Action Item | Priority | REsponsible Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pillar Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Foundation & Infrastructure | Goal Provide visible, dedicated support and structure with authority and budget to effectively implement Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. | # 1 | Action Item Form and maintain an equity committee to provide municipal and equity input to the VLCT Board and expertise on equity efforts | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Executive Director, VLCT Board of Directors |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Secure additional funding to support equity work in year two and three | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Offer stipends for VLCT committees to encourage underrepresented individuals to serve | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Executive Director, VLCT Board of Directors |
| Pillar Leadership and Accountability | Goal Hold leaders accountable for implementing the Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging vision, setting goals, achieving results, and being role models. | # 1 | Action Item Adopt and amend as necessary the VLCT Statement of Equity and Racial Justice | Priority Short | REsponsible Party VLCT Board of Directors, Equity Committee |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Review the VLCT Equity and Social Justice Plan and the VLCT Three Year Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Strategic Plan progress report with the Board on an annual basis | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party VLCT Board of Directors, Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Prioritize the inclusion of underrepresented voices on the Boards of VLCT, PACIF and VERB | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party VLCT Board of Directors, Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 4 | Action Item Provide annual Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging training to VLCT, PACIF and VERB boards | Priority Long | REsponsible Party Executive Director, Human Resources Director |
| Pillar Assessment and Evaluation | Goal To identify and monitor appropriate metrics and accountability measures to achieve and sustain systemic change. | # 1 | Action Item Complete the Cultural Competency Survey and Org Maturity Index | Priority Short | REsponsible Party VLCT Human Resources |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Hold Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging listening sessions to inform VLCT of current state of Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Communications, Human Resources, Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Collect demographic information to help VLCT measure its effectiveness in providing Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging services to members, including questions in member surveys and annual contact database updates about race, ethnicity, gender identification, and more in member surveys as a way to gauge progress | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Communications, Executive Director, Administration |
| Pillar | Goal | # 4 | Action Item Conduct regular assessments of board’s Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging competency and commitment | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party VLCT Board of Directors, Executive Director |
| Pillar Equitable Employment Practices | Goal Strengthen the organization by hiring individuals with a diversity of life and professional experiences. | # 1 | Action Item Conduct a Human Resource Policy Review | Priority Short | REsponsible Party VLCT Human Resources |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Distribute job announcements through new channels including the Vermont Professionals of Color Network (vtpoc.net) | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Human Resources |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Develop hiring best practices document that municipalities can use | Priority Long | REsponsible Party Human Resources |
| Pillar DEI Education and Training | Goal To develop workforce awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary to be active partners in creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. | # 1 | Action Item Provide foundational training for VLCT Equity Committee, Board, and Staff (including Inclusive “Excellence: An Imperative for Municipalities” and “Together Forward: Getting to a thriving VLCT Equity Committee”) | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Build a cohort of municipalities interested in undertaking equity work and provide them with data collection tools, education opportunities, and networking opportunities | Priority Long | REsponsible Party Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Provide annual diversity, equity and inclusion training that focuses on unconscious bias, respect in the workplace, and microaggressions to members | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Executive Director, Human Resources, Communications |
| Pillar | Goal | # 4 | Action Item Offer annual foundational Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging training about power dynamics including systemic racism, ableism and other exclusionary systems to municipal leaders | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Executive Director, Human Resources, Communications |
| Pillar Inclusive work environment | Goal To have a diverse and inclusive workplace free of harassment, discrimination, and systemic barriers. | # 1 | Action Item Provide ongoing justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging training to staff | Priority Long | REsponsible Party Human Resources |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Create and convene municipal official affinity groups to help with inter-municipal learning and VLCT learning | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Municipal Assistance Center, Executive Director, Communications |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Build a cultural transformation committee at VLCT aimed at celebrating diversity | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Human Resources |
| Pillar Inclusive Service and Engagement | Goal To ensure inclusive and equitable access to and benefit of municipal services, programs, and facilities | # 1 | Action Item Convene municipal equity committees for informal shared learning opportunities | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Municipal Assistance Center, Communications |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Review and adopt a model equity impact assessment tool to help communities evaluate the impact of their policies on their residents | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Equity Committee |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Offer equity grants to communities to hire consultants, do equity, training, implement equity related solutions | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 4 | Action Item Convene workgroup to consider how to use the power of insurance trusts to motivate communities to undertake equity work | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Risk Management Services staff, Executive Director |
| Pillar | Goal | # 5 | Action Item Provide technical assistance to communities undertaking equity work through an attorney and equity consultant in the Municipal Assistance Center | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Municipal Assistance Center, Executive Director |
| Pillar Accessible Information and Communication | Goal To communicate both internally and externally in a way that demonstrates, exemplifies, and embodies justice, equity, inclusion and belonging. | # 1 | Action Item Build a more comprehensive VLCT equity website, including information about the equity committee, access to the VLCT equity toolkit, and resources | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Executive Director, Equity Committee, Communications |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Offer an equity awareness curriculum, featuring stats, podcasts, websites, social media, resources related to avoiding microaggressions and examples of inclusive language | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Communications, Executive Director, Municipal Assistance Center |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Create and update an equity toolkit, including best practices, model policies and templates | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Communications, Executive Director, Municipal Assistance Center, Equity Committee |
| Pillar | Goal | # 4 | Action Item Consider developing resources to help communities ensure critical municipal information is available to all community members by designing for accessibility, including websites and translation services | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Equity Committee, Executive Director, Communications |
| Pillar Meaningful Partnerships | Goal To develop positive and respectful internal and external partnerships that contribute to inclusive decision making. | # 1 | Action Item Support communities in their consideration of statements of inclusion as a step in their justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work. Collaborate with promoters of these statements, such as the Declaration of Inclusion promoters. Support communities in their efforts to act on those statements. | Priority Short | REsponsible Party Executive Director, Advocacy, Communications |
| Pillar | Goal | # 2 | Action Item Provide support and advocate for municipalities, local officials, and municipal staff to participate in and join affiliate identity-based organizations including but not limited to ICMA, National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Local Government Hispanic Network, International Network for Asian Public Administrators, CivicPRIDE, and Vermont Women Leading Government | Priority Long | REsponsible Party Administration |
| Pillar | Goal | # 3 | Action Item Coordinate with the Vermont Community Foundation and the State of Vermont Office of Racial Equity to provide comprehensive and coordinated equity services to municipalities | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Executive Director, Advocacy |
| Pillar | Goal | # 4 | Action Item Engage with national local government associations doing equity work, such as the National League of Cities’ REAL program and ICMA’s Government Alliance on Race and Equity Program, to bring national best practices and resources to Vermont municipalities | Priority Medium | REsponsible Party Executive Director, Municipal Assistance Center |
Publication Date
07/14/2021