Melrose DEI Focus Groups Kicking Off In Janurary

MELROSE, MA — Registration is open for three dozen community focus groups as part of the city's next step in its diversity, equity and inclusion audit.

Thirty-six virtual focus groups centered on everything from race to city employment length will take place during January. You can see the full list below.

"I’m committed to creating a culture of inclusion within our City government. These focus groups will further our understanding of how we can do that," Mayor Paul Brodeur said in a release. "While I am already proud of what we have accomplished together so far, I recognize there is a great deal of progress to be made in order to build a City that truly works for all."

Related: Brodeur Forming DEI Task Force To Have Say In City Policy

Each 50-minute session will have a limited number of participants who will be able to share their thoughts. A person may only register for one group, but can speak to any of their experiences in that group. Those unable to get into a group can weigh in on this survey.

The city said the purpose of the groups is to "collect information about the racial climate in Melrose, including strengths, challenges and desired outcomes as well as to provide a chance for participants to share their experiences, interpersonally, institutionally and culturally in and around these critical matters."

Here is the full DEI focus group schedule and registration:

Monday, January 10, 2022

• 5:00 PM -- DEI Task Force Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- White Youth/Young Adult Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- BIPOC Youth/Young Adult Focus Group Registration

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

• 1:00 PM -- DPW Focus Group Registration
• 3:00 PM -- Police Focus Group Registration
• 4:30 PM -- LGBTQ+ Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Black/African Diaspora Women's Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- White Women's Focus Group Registration

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

• 1:00 PM -- Fire Dept. Focus Group Registration
• 2:00 PM -- City Employees Working 5 years or Less Focus Group Registration
• 4:30 PM -- Interfaith Leaders Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Schools Administrators Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- METCO Families Focus Group Registration

Thursday, January 13, 2022

• 1:00 PM -- City Employees Working 6 years or More Focus Group Registration
• 4:30 PM -- Teachers/Staff Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Single Parents Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Transgender, Gender Nonconforming/Gender Nonbinary Focus Group Registration

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

• 2:00 PM -- City Employees of Color Focus Group Registration
• 5:00 PM -- Hispanic/Latino/a/x Focus Groups Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Families of People with Disabilities Focus Group Registration

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

• 1:00 PM -- Department Heads and Managers Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Melrose Newcomer Focus Group Registration

Thursday, January 20, 2022

• 4:00 PM -- Affordable Housing Practitioners Focus Group Registration
• 5:30 PM -- Melrose Residents Who Send Their Kids Out of the City to School Focus Group Registration

Monday, January 24, 2022

• 4:30 PM -- Jewish Focus Group Registration
• 4:30 PM -- Muslim Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Black/African Diaspora Men's Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- White Men's Focus Group Registration

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

• 4:30 PM -- People with Visible Disabilities Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- People with Invisible Disabilities Focus Group Registration

Thursday, January 27, 2022

• 4:30 PM -- Elders Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Hispanic/Latino/a/x Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Asian American Pacific Islander Focus Group Registration

Monday, January 31, 2022

• 4:00 PM -- Portuguese Speaking Focus Group Registration
• 5:00 PM -- Middle Eastern/North African Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- Immigrants of Color Focus Group Registration
• 6:00 PM -- White Immigrants Focus Group Registration