Submissions for City Manager’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Awards Program DUE Friday, Nov. 5

The City of Cambridge, in partnership with its Employees’ Committee on Diversity, today announced the establishment of the City Manager’s Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion awards program. The inaugural awards ceremony will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022.

This award is an affirmation of our employees’ commitment to advancing anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) and the importance of creating an environment that supports, builds, and sustains these ideals for employees and residents. These awards will recognize employees at all levels, but are particularly intended to celebrate non-management employees whose dedication to ADEI efforts may be demonstrated on the smaller scale, such as through regular interactions with the public or through the delivery of city services.

“What truly makes Cambridge a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive city is its employees,” said City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. “The work that our employees do every day to serve our residents, to collaborate with their coworkers, and to improve our community by advancing ADEI initiatives is inspiring – and it should be celebrated.”

There are two categories for awards or recognition: individual employees and city departments. Award recipients will be selected using the criteria below. Where eligibility criteria relate to underrepresented populations, the term is meant to include women, minority racial and ethnic groups, persons with disabilities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Award Criteria for City Employees

City employees may be nominated for accomplishment or commitment in one or more of the following areas:

• Support for programs and initiatives contributing to the hiring and retention of underrepresented populations.
• Efforts to enhance cultural awareness and cross-cultural competency as a vehicle for equitable and responsive service delivery to multicultural communities.
• Advocacy for anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the workplace.
• Developing activities that support partnerships with institutions and community groups that serve underrepresented populations.
• Promoting a welcoming and supportive work environment.
• Implementing the city’s anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and modeling related expectations.

Criteria for Recognition of City Departments

A city department or, if appropriate, a particular division or unit of a department, can be nominated for recognition for accomplishments in one or more of the following areas:

• Hiring and retention of underrepresented populations.
• Creating opportunities for the professional development and growth of underrepresented populations.
• Instituting inclusive outreach and communications within the department and with the Cambridge community.
• Fostering collaboration/partnerships with institutions and community groups that serve underrepresented minorities to address issues of concern.
• Implementing the city’s diversity, anti-racism, equity, and inclusion goals and leadership expectations.

All city employees are eligible for nomination. City departments are eligible for nomination, and a particular division, unit, or program within a department may be nominated for specific recognition. Anyone who lives or works in Cambridge may nominate city employees or departments for recognition. Individuals are not limited as to how many employees or departments they nominate but must submit a separate nomination form for each.

Members of the public can submit a nomination online at Cambridgema.gov/ADEI or, alternatively, by submitting a signed nomination letter and emailing it to citymanager@cambridgema.gov. Completed nominations must be submitted by noon on Friday, November 5, 2021.