Smithfield: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Task Force invites reports on concerning behaviors

Smithfield issues “An invitation for citizens to report concerning behavior in the Smithfield community”

The Smithfield Town Council has created a “Community Concerns Form” for filing of complaints from community members about activity in the town. It has also appointed the SMITHFIELD DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TASK FORCE and invites citizens to report concerning behavior in the Smithfield community. This step came from hate speech spray painted on a bike/walking path.

In a press release sent out by the Smithfield Police Department…

“The Smithfield Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Task Force is pleased to announce that the Task Force has developed a DEI Community Concerns Form to assist residents and business owners in reporting behavior that negatively affects individuals’ sense of belonging in the community.

The DEI Community Concerns Form will soon be available on the Town, School District, and Police Department websites. Completed forms can be submitted electronically and will be reviewed by town officials to determine appropriate follow-up. The Task Force intends to utilize the data and information from reported concerns to help correct negative behavior, track trends, and help the Town develop strategies to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the community.

Last year, the Smithfield Town Council created the DEI Task Force as part of its commitment to making Smithfield an increasingly welcoming, inclusive, and safe community for everyone to live, work, and learn; and to promote free thought and speech, while condemning racism, hate speech, bigotry, violence, and discrimination. The DEI Community Concerns Form is one small step in following through on this commitment.”

On Friday, Smithfield Town Manager Randy Rossi and Smithfield Town Council President Suzy Alba did an interview with WPRO’s Matt Allen – the link is below – the three engage in a deeper discussion of how this issue came to the forefront of the town council and how the report form was developed in reaction to those actions.

The form will be available on the Smithfield police, town and school website.

The town manager said professional staff (asst. supt of schools, detective in police dept, outreach coordinator) will review them and “deal with them accordingly”.

In some cases, graffiti might need to be cleaned up – in others, there would be a need to educate people how to be better humans to each other. It was unclear how that “education” would take place, and if records would be kept.

https://omny.fm/shows/the-matt-allen-show/smithfield-town-manager-randy-rossi-and-smithfield?fbclid=IwAR0gQPEtJFXopLvkCHaAVjdnrw2M2FsuthR8RYQHq6r_ayfwnBwin2VrBmg

The Goals of the Smithfield Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force are as follows:

1. Engage with Smithfield residents, interest groups, and businesses to seek feedback on their experiences that can improve life in our community.
2. Identify strategies that help the Town to be more inclusive in engaging our residents and businesses that will better promote unity, equality and understanding in Smithfield
3. Work with a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant to develop a comprehensive plan and long-term vision of diversity, equity and inclusion goals for the community. The plan should include methods of both short- and long-term monitoring and evaluation that consider several areas, including but not limited to policies and procedures, community partnership engagement and ongoing education.
4. Present recommendation to the Smithfield Town Council on how to achieve the goals above.
5. Subcommittees may be formed to focus on issues or subjects meriting more detailed discussion.

A presentation was made at the Smithfield Town Council, entitled “A Discussion in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion”

View it at the link below: