Somerville Mayor Takes Steps To Diversify Boards, Commissions

SOMERVILLE, MA — Mayor Katjana Ballantyne plans to re-evaluate the application and selection process for city boards and commissions in an effort to make them more inclusive.

Ballantyne said the goal is to address barriers to serving on local boards, including access to application materials and lack of communication of resident openings.

"There are so many ways for residents to get involved and help shape the future of Somerville, but for some, the process to join a board or commission or the logistics of serving creates barriers that keep them from participating," Ballantyne said in a statement. "If we want to live up to our values of equity and inclusivity, we need to break down those barriers so that our boards and commissions are representative of the wonderful diversity in our community."

The plan will be rolled out in phases, with the first focused on initial steps to standardize inclusion best practices in the recruitment process. This means calls for any new board or commission members will be distributed through a range of both public digital and traditional non-digital methods, and applicants will be able to apply online or via mail, phone or application drop-off.

All openings will be publicized for a minimum of four weeks from the date of announcement, and extended as necessary. Unless professional experience is required by city charter or ordinance, lived experience will be considered in the appointment process. Applicants will be supported in requesting accommodations as needed.

In addition to broad promotion of opportunities through the city's communications channels and five main languages, membership calls will also be promoted via additional city departments, including the Racial and Social Justice Department and SomerViva Office of Immigrant Affairs, and shared with community partners to expand reach. Membership calls will also be available in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Nepali, and, soon, Mandarin.

Calls for new members will be sent out while additional phases of the plan are being developed. Residents will be able to find open positions listed at the following locations:

• City-owned bulletin boards, Somerville Public Library branches, and flyers posted in other locations around the community
• The Be Somerville website, somervillema.gov/besomerville
• The City home page and social media channels
• City GovTV and EdTV local access TV
• The City’s newsletter (subscribe at somervillema.gov/newsletter)
• Announcements sent to local media

Looking ahead, the city will collect feedback from community members, as well as board and commission applicants, members, and staff about existing barriers that may prevent residents from applying for a position or accepting an appointment. This feedback will help determine future phases of work to further expand outreach methods and address identified barriers to participation.

Following the recruitment phase, the next part of the plan will focus on standardizing the appointment process. The city aims to work in partnership with its boards and commissions to establish a process that prioritizes diversity and inclusion.

Staff liaisons to Somerville boards and commissions will reach out to interested current memberships to seek any feedback or insights focusing on equity, inclusivity, efficiency, and transparency. This feedback will help identify the specific challenges facing current and future members.