Black/White Dialogue Group Meeting

The Black/White Dialogue meeting May 14 was constructive with positive results. Joy Fulkerson and Aubrey Lee did an outstanding job of bringing us together, providing opportunities for all to share, and moving us forward.

If you recall, there were nine issues we discussed at the April meeting. We reduced those to six:

Commissioners are permitted to work for the county they serve, which presents a conflict of interest.
A “good old boy system” promotes favoritism and diminishes the potential for inclusivity.
Only 1% of county employees are of color. None are in publicly visible positions.
The State of Tennessee does not require governmental agencies to provide affirmative action. The electorate would like to be more aware of hiring practices and the results thereof.
The teacher base in the county schools needs more inclusivity to increase understanding of different cultures and be role models for students from other cultures.
How can we develop our community to be more inclusive?

Please note, the first four items have to do, directly or indirectly, with employment practices that affect inclusive employment. Item five is inclusivity in the school system. Item six is a challenge for all of us in our commitment to develop a healthier community.

Joe Grandy will be researching other counties’ and Washington County’s approach to these issues for the next meeting. At the next meeting we will develop further concrete steps for creating solutions.