Departure of 3rd chief diversity officer in 6 years "jeopardizes any and all efforts to dismantle institutional racism in Worcester," writes President Fred Taylor
Saying the Black and Brown community's hopes "are once again being frustrated, denied, and delayed until another time," the head of Worcester's NAACP branch slammed the administration over the departure of the city's 3rd chief diversity officer in 6 years.
RELATED:
Worcester city manager responds to NAACP pulling out of anniversary celebration
Radio Worcester (13:17): Worcester NAACP President Fred Taylor on the departure of Chief Diversity Officer Stephanie Williams
Earlier: City of Worcester seeks new chief diversity officer as Stephanie Williams leaves
In an statement posted Sunday on letterhead of the Worcester NAACP, President Fred Taylor wrote that with the latest departure, the people he represents "are now left wondering why these smart, intelligent, and dedicated women hired with glowing qualifications leaving after such a short time?"
As a result, Taylor wrote, his organization is withdrawing as an institutional member of Worcester’s Tercentenary Committee in charge of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the city's founding.
"Worcester’s first CDO, Malika Carter, was hired January 2016 in response to the Department of Justice listening sessions on race," the statement continues. "She left just over a year later in July 2017. She was quickly replaced by Suja Chacko, an insider from the Human Resources Department, in March 2018, but she also left after less than 2 years. Then the city hired Stefanie(sic) Williams, a Worcester native."
"This departure raises so many questions," the statement reads. "Why did Ms. Williams leave? Did she feel unsupported? undervalued? ignored? marginalized? Are we serious about diversity and equity in Worcester? Why is there such difficulty keeping someone in this position? Is the position a smoke screen? The city administration should do some genuine and humble self-assessment. How can you tell Black and Brown people you are serious about diversity, yet not one diversity officer has stayed in the position for two years? As a community, we are calling for answers and transparency."
Williams appeared on WCCA-TV's "Daily Breaking" on April 7, 2021.
"Ms. Williams’s departure shines a bright light directly onto City Hall, raising serious institutional issues," Taylor wrote in his statement. "Ms. Williams’s departure jeopardizes any and all efforts to dismantle institutional racism in Worcester and loudly raises one unavoidable question, 'Why aren’t we making progress?' "
Lastly, Taylor criticized the news being included in a Friday afternoon news dump, a common public relations tactic meant to minimize the impact of bad or unflattering news. "This is serious, and serious issues deserve much, much more than a quiet press release at the end of the day on a Friday."
What else is happening in and around Worcester? Click here or keep scrolling ⤵️
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:31). High of 57 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: 3 in custody after chase on I-290 ends in crash in Northborough (1:24)
+6:00: Related: Aerial footage of crash (:50)
+6:00: Judge upholds prison sentence of Kevin Perry, former Worcester restaurant owner
+6:00: Sex assault suspect used dog to lure 13-year-old girl into his car, prosecutors say (2:04)
+6:00: FAM Jam! eyes new chapter in the "Worcester Renaissance" with fair
+6:00: Worcester hockey alumni highlights, NHL week 28
+Noon: Worcester County Wonders: The 1844 rapture that never happened and the rock that remains
+Noon: Local borrowers again hopeful for student loan forgiveness
+Noon: See the neighborhood meetings this week in Worcester
+Noon: Stand-out spring ephemerals are a great way to celebrate Native Plant Month
-Concerned citizens feeling ignored by Worcester police as missing persons case continues
-Developer seeks larger Table Talk Pies apartment project
-Worcester holds 34th annual Regional Environmental Council Earth Day clean ups
-Earth Day 2024: What the annual day means for our environment, planet
-West Boylston police seek suspects in sneaker store heist
-Worcester doctors call for action to address Black maternal health disparities
-Gravestones unearthed: get reacquainted with 2 of Worcester's oldest residents
-Health experts discuss "structural racism" in health care at conference at City Hall
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (45:58): City violence and upcoming State of the City address
-Faces of Worcester: Sean Harris, Director of Community Engagement, Quinsigamond Community College
-NEW! Unsolved: Worcester — The Gardner Fugitive and the Murder of Breanne Pennington. Video (13:59). Audio (13:58)
>FAITH: Passover 2024 — What you should know about the Jewish holiday
-ICYMI: The state investigated Worcester’s Saint Vincent Hospital — here’s what it found
-Commuter rail sees increased Worcester Line ridership after sacrificing "Heart to Hub" express
-Worcester ranked third worst market in U.S. for housing renters: Forbes
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Q&A with Wachusett teacher Mr. Chandonnet
-Lamoureux Ford salutes the UConn Huskies (:54)
-Holden ready for Main Street resurfacing
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Expansion of overcrowded Shrewsbury High School debated
-Quabbin-area towns draw on history in quest for "equity"
-Grafton resident honored as Alumni Team Captain of the Year by Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk
-Clinton school budget process praised
-B.V.T.'s robotics competition Team 61 - The Intimidators earn Judges' Award
-Wachusett area public safety logs
-Thomas Prince School honor roll
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: The Price Is Right Live coming to Worcester in September (:31)
-Radio Worcester (8:22): CASA Palooza music & support for foster care May 4th
-WCCA-TV's Human Touch No. 82 (28:31): Joshua Kennedy, author, "Unchained"
-WCCA-TV's Rosen's Roundtable No. 533 (27:53): Rental Registry
-Unity Radio (55:12): Standups and Standouts
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester woman who opened a popular Shrewsbury Street restaurant named after her father
>SPORTS: Celtics blow out Miami, 114-94, in playoff opener
-What it might take for Patriots to trade No. 3 pick in NFL Draft
-Matthew Slater joins Patriots' staff
-WCCA-TV's What It's Worth No. 458 (27:14): Al Pettway, North High basketball coach
-Red Sox beat Pirates, 6-1
-WooSox beat Durham, 7-1
>CARS: Bertera has the all-star team to help you find your next Nissan car or truck (:39)
-Tesla cuts prices on Y, X and S models after delivery miss
>NATIONAL: Police officer fatally shot while heading home from work
-15 people suffer minor injuries in tram accident at Universal Studios theme park
-Tragic: Mom, 40, falls 140 feet to her death while hiking with baby, husband
>NEW ENGLAND: Shoppers on edge after body found behind Shoppers World in Framingham (1:57)
-20 safest cities in Massachusetts in 2024
>COLLEGES: Clark Challenge. Change. podcast (9:13) — Are we master of Siri, or vice versa?
-Anna Maria, Mass. Municipal Police Training Committee announce memo of understanding
-WPI launches first-in-the-nation financial technology PhD
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 5 best museum cities
>BUSINESS: Bank C.E.O. retiring after 37 years, to be succeed by V.P.
-Radio Worcester (13:04): Nancy Cahalen retires, Alex Guardiola leads B.B.B. Central New England
>HOMES: Aspen home sells for a record, and breathtaking, $77 million
>HEALTH: Ozempic use appears to be changing people's personalities
-UMass Medical School researcher developing skin treatment, with potential broader applications to prevent diabetes
>FOOD: Trader Joe’s basil linked to salmonella outbreak
>TV/STREAMING: Disney to overhaul Disney+ streaming service with TV channels
>MOVIES: "Civil War" continues dominant box office campaign with second week at No. 1
>CELEBRITY: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announces 2024 inductees
>ANIMALS: Cow-calf rejected by mom becomes Maine store employee
>HISTORY: Isaiah Thomas House — Walk in the footsteps of Worcester's revolutionaries
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): 16-year-old girl, formerly homeless, addresses Mass. lawmakers as Eagle Scout
-Meanwhile, in Florida, woman finds nearly 8-foot alligator inside her home
Latest obituaries | | Sunday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather
Comments