Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Employee Conversations and Experiences

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

As COVID-19 remained a severe international threat, the 2020 global civil unrest and social movement sparked a deep desire at Henrico County General Government for candid, honest conversations on current events, race, inclusion, and belonging. In response to this growing need, Henrico County's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Specialist, in collaboration with the Director of Social Services, hosted virtual forums across the county to assess employee well-being and provide a safe space for employees to dialogue and express thoughts on the pandemic, national events, and DEI topics. The forums consisted of WebEx focus groups, virtual inclusion workshops, panel discussions, and a partnership with the Department of Public Relations (PR) to produce a Voices of the Heart video series, highlighting the diverse, lived experiences of eleven county employees. The results of this initiative have been overwhelmingly positive for building trust in the organization's commitment to DEI. Human Resources (HR) received positive feedback from employees expressing gratitude for the county's support and opportunities to connect with peers to discuss critical topics of importance to them. As of January 2022, the Voices of Heart YouTube video series has received 2,320 views and 82 "likes."