After previously criticizing Worcester officials, local NAACP applauds City’s new chief diversity hire

A man with a black beard wears a tan suit jacket and white button down

Photo | Courtesy of Fred Taylor Fred Taylor, president of the Worcester NAACP Unit

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Following the City of Worcester’s appointment of Kevin Lovaincy as chief equity officer, Worcester’s NAACP Unit has expressed its support of the City’s decision and applauded City Manager Eric Batista for his restructuring efforts of the position.

“We want to thank the diversity officer search advisory team members, including a Black Families Together representative, for their dedicated efforts in collaborating with the Human Rights Department to select our new chief equity officer,” said Worcester NAACP President Fred Taylor in a Thursday press release from the organization.

Taylor’s recent remarks are in stark contrast to his statements made after the 2022 resignation of the City’s most recent chief diversity officer, Stephanie Williams. Williams was the third individual to fill the role since its creation in 2016. None of the previous chief diversity officers stayed in the position for more than two and a half months. Taylor berated the City over Williams’ departure with Taylor writing in a letter saying Worcester had gone backward in its diversity efforts.

Williams’ position had remained vacant for two and a half years, and Lovaincy’s hiring followed a year-long search for Williams’ replacement.

This pattern of departures must be kept in mind as the City moves forward with Lovaincy taking over in the restructured chief equity officer position on Oct. 28.

“We must remember our history to avoid repeating it,” said Taylor.

Though the City has made improvements in boosting diversity through electing diversity officers within both the Worcester Police Department and Worcester Public Schools, there is still substantial progress to be made, he said.

“There are still issues that need attention that have not been adequately addressed in the more than two and a half years without overall leadership,” said Taylor.

The NAACP will hold the Batista administration accountable for the full implementation of the goals outlined in its announcement of Lovaincy’s hiring including accelerating representation within municipal workforce and leadership, increasing access to opportunities through an equitable hiring process, and providing DEI trainings and professional development opportunities, Taylor said.

“We hope that this is the beginning of a new chapter in our history, and we will be watching to make sure it is so,” he said.

Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.