Diversity & Inclusion
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Chicago, IL DiverseTech apprenticeship initiative creates talent pipeline for city IT roles
Chicago is working with the University of Illinois and SDI Presence to select a 25-member cohort. Project leaders will recruit community college students from underrepresented communities for the program. Apprentices spend 15 months on a combination of hands-on work experiences, mentoring, and classroom learning. The DiverseTech curriculum responds to IT challenges facing Chicago with apprentices prepared for cybersecurity and digital services roles in city departments.
Chicago, IL
United States
St Paul, MN addresses long-term impacts of I-94 development with Rondo Inheritance Fund
Six hundred families were displaced from the Rondo neighborhood by the 12-year interstate project starting in 1956. The Inheritance Fund offers up to $100,000 for new home purchases within city limits for direct descendants of affected residents. The Fund's Homeowner Rehab Program issues no-interest loans of up to $55,000 for qualifying home repairs. An additional $10,000 and $25,000 are available for home purchases and repairs, respectively, within the Rondo neighborhood.
St Paul, MN
United States
Espoo, FI advances social inclusion and emissions reduction efforts with cycle participation program
Espoo received $60,000 from EIT Climate-KIC and FedEx for a program aimed at new immigrants. The initiative aims to prepare newcomers for Espoo's strong cycling culture with free training courses. Local officials will also recruit a network of local bike shops for free or discounted maintenance along with bike recommendations based on customer needs. This effort focuses on female refugees and immigrants in need of low-cost transportation options.
Espoo, FI
Finland
Banyule, VIC incentivizes employment for residents struggling to find work with Inclusive Jobs Fund
Local nonprofit organizations can apply for up to AUD 22,000 to cover the costs of hiring workers facing obstacles to employment. Successful applicants must employ new hires for at least 15 hours per week at agreed-upon hourly rates for at least six months. Participating employers work with the council's Inclusive Jobs Service for recruitment and employment support. The Inclusive Jobs Fund advances the Community Vision 2041 goal of an inclusive and connected community.
Banyule, VIC
Australia
Santa Monica, CA Right to Return pilot prioritizes families displaced by discriminatory policies
The program places successful applicants at the top of the city's Below Market Rate Housing list. Eligible residents were directly impacted by eminent domain decisions in the Belmar Triangle and Pico neighborhoods in the 1950s and 1960s. The city asks for proof of residency in impacted neighborhoods by applicants or their guardians prior to approval. Santa Monica sought 100 applicants for returns to city-funded housing in these areas in recognition of historical disparities.
Santa Monica, CA
United States
Leuven (Louvain), VBR fosters community anti-racism discussions with Got Your Back game
Got Your Back asks participants to place themselves in the shoes of someone facing discrimination in their daily lives. Players are presented with up to 15 situations and asked how they would react as the target and as a bystander. A game moderator leads discussions after each round on safe interventions by bystanders. This game is designed for up to 25 players aged 16 and older with copies available for free at public libraries.
Leuven (Louvain), VBR
Belgium
Boston, MA pilots Postpartum Education and Support Group for residents from underrepresented groups
The 10-week virtual program provides free guidance for 32 residents who have recently given birth. Project facilitator Love Your Menses, Inc. arranges guest speakers and consultations with OB/GYNs during weekly sessions. The group also provides postpartum care boxes and supports peer mentoring among participants. City officials intend the pilot as a supportive environment for residents of color facing obstacles to treatment for postpartum depression.
Boston, MA
United States
Grand Rapids, MI prioritizes small businesses in procurement with its MLBE Certification
Locally owned businesses with revenues or employees up to 25% of the Small Business Administration's size standards qualify for the certification. Micro Local Business Enterprise (MLBE) recipients are considered priority vendors with the city. Successful applicants receive 3% bid discounts if providing goods or services and 5% bid discounts if providing construction services. The program also focused on MLBE businesses for medical marijuana and river restoration projects.
Grand Rapids, MI
United States
Mount Barker, SA introduces new website accessibility tool for customized user experiences
The accessibility tool is available by selecting the person icon on the right side of any council webpage. Website users can select from eight accessibility profiles including ADHD, dyslexia, and motor impairment. There are also customization options for 15 features ranging from text spacing to link highlights. The tool powered by UserWay includes text translation into more than 50 languages such as Arabic, Hindi, and Spanish.
Mount Barker, SA
Australia
Chicago, IL and Thierer Family Foundation lead food delivery pilot for residents with disabilities
The Vivery Idea Lab pilot aims for 2,000 food deliveries to 150 residents of the Austin neighborhood. Participants will communicate with food banks and pantries through Vivery. This platform supports online ordering, text alerts, and inventory updates. Monthly deliveries from project partner Delivery First include shelf-stable and perishable items. This six-month pilot evaluates how city departments can leverage Vivery for expanded access to healthy food.
Chicago, IL
United States
Atlanta, GA ATLinBusiness Marketplace builds relationships between local suppliers and buyers
The digital marketplace focuses on B2B interactions among locally owned companies. Participating businesses create free accounts through the NowNetwork-powered platform in a few simple steps. Each company's profile includes products and services on offer along with diversity classifications and other operational details. An AI-enabled search tool connects buyers to suppliers based on profile matches. The ATLinBusiness Marketplace amplifies smaller vendors and boosts the local economy.
Atlanta, GA
United States
Boulder County, CO Young Leaders Academy boosts youth entrepreneurship and job prospects
The six-month academy was designed to counter educational and career disruptions caused by COVID-19. Eligible participants were aged 16 to 24 and identified as Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color. Students completed six weeks of skill-building workshops with $500 incentives for attending 80% of sessions. Participants selected from paid internship, certification, or high school equivalency diploma tracks. Boulder County used federal ARPA funds to recruit partners and pay $6,000 stipends.
Boulder County, CO
United States