NAACP berates City of Worcester over third chief diversity officer departure
Courtesy of North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
Fred Taylor, business representative, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and president, Worcester NAACP
The City of Worcester announced late Friday its chief diversity officer, Stephanie Williams, will leave her position, making her the third diversity officer to leave since the role was created in 2016, and prompting an outcry from Worcester’s NAACP Unit, which has now decided to leave the city’s Tercentennial Celebration Committee.
"We have gone backwards. With a population so diverse we now only have one person of color in the leadership of the administration and no Black women," wrote Fred Taylor, president of Worcester’s NAACP Unit, in a letter posted on the organization’s social media Sunday evening.
Williams began her role in November 2020 and has managed all diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, including an executive order signed in February 2021 to dismantle structural and institutional racism.
Worcester’s CDO position was created in January 2016. The first CDO, Malika Carter, left after about 18 months in the role and was replaced by Suja Chacko, who left after about two years. Chacko preceded Williams.
“This departure raises so many questions,” wrote Taylor. “Worcester’s Black and Brown communities invested in this process and position are now left wondering why these smart, intelligent, and dedicated women hired with glowing qualifications [are] leaving after such a short time.”
Taylor said in the letter NAACP will immediately withdraw itself as an institutional member of the Worcester Tercentennial Celebration Committee, which is helping to plan the city’s 300th anniversary celebration.
“Ms. Williams’s departure jeopardizes any and all efforts to dismantle institutional racism in Worcester and loudly raises one unavoidable question, ‘Why aren’t we making progress?’” Taylor wrote.
Before Williams began her role in summer 2020, Worcester-based social service Black Families Together made four demands to City Hall, regarding the CDO's salary, rank, and budget, as well as BFT's voice in selecting a CDO, in order to address the high turnover rate among diversity officers. In response, the City raised the CDO salary, changed the position to a cabinet-level role, and included BFT as a member of the search committee for hiring a new diversity officer.
In a Wednesday press release, BFT said it is requesting assessment and an equity audit before the next CDO is hired.
The racial origin of Worcester's population is 13% Black, 22% Hispanic, 7% Asian, and 55% non-Hispanic white, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
"I hope the NAACP, a critical part of the tapestry that makes Worcester a beacon of possibility, will reconsider," said City Manager Edward Augustus in a statement, referring to the NAACP's withdrawal from the Tercentennial Committee. "The Tercentennial is about togetherness and thanking everyone — including the many organizations that have worked so hard to build our city’s identity — for laying a strong foundation."
The City did not provide a reason for Williams’ departure.
“Worcester is such an amazing city, and I am pleased to have been able to contribute to some of the great work being done here,” Williams said in the press release from Friday afternoon.
In that Friday afternoon announcement, the City said it will soon begin the recruitment and replacement process for a new CDO. Assistant City Manager Eric Batista will serve as an interim in the role until someone new is hired.
Taylor of the NAACP urged the City to take its time with the decision.
“We are demanding the city not rush to hire a replacement simply to check a box. Our community needs answers first,” he said.
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Another misleading WBJ headline. Have you guys/gals no shame?
As we look to celebrate 300 years we need to make sure our actions are congruent with our words. The NAACP has been working diligently to overcome traditional barriers that have excluded the voice and work of BIPOC; we can do better.
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