City Manager

Equity Services

NEW! - 2011 Diversity Poster Contest Winners

• View the winning posters from this year's Diversity Poster Contest
• Photo gallery from the contest winners' ceremony at the August 8, 2011 City Council Meeting

The City of Clearwater Equity Services division promotes the dignity and worth of all people by ensuring strong opposition to unlawful discrimination, providing valuing diversity and discrimination law training, supporting social services, and engaging in positive community interactions.

We provide the following services:

• Ensuring equal employment opportunities for City of Clearwater employees.
• Facilitating the Valuing Diversity process for City staff.
• Facilitating the City ADA Advisory Committee objectives regarding accessibility issues for the differently-able with respect to City-owned buildings and facilities.
• Offering city government representation to community-based groups & organizations.

We also provide free technical information and training services to the public, and to other departments within city government on discrimination law topics, and the value of diversity within any group. Education is the most effective tool in preventing discrimination, and in supporting equal opportunities.

The City of Clearwater maintains a long-standing commitment to positive community interaction and involvement. This division serves as the City liaison in efforts to stay in touch with the diverse needs of a diverse community.

Clearwater's commitment to diversity is celebrated in the mission and activities of its Diversity Leadership Council, a group of city employee representatives who seek ways to showcase the strength in differences among all people. Formed six years ago, the Council has been quietly moving forward to bring diversity awareness into the workplace and diversity outreach into the community. The group meets monthly to discuss diversity issues and plan special diversity-related events.

Among its many activities, the Council sponsors an annual Diversity Awareness Poster and coloring contest, open to youngsters who participate in the city’s Parks & Recreation summer camp programs. Winning artists receive prizes in each of four age categories: Pre-kindergarten, Primary grade students; Middle-school students; Camp Counselor interns (high school). First place winners in the upper three categories also win savings bond. All winners and their parents are presented at a City Council meeting at the end of the summer and participating artists' work is displayed in city facilities.

The Diversity Leadership Council works with the city’s Cultural Arts Division to offer a "Diversity Day" for city employees, holding an ethnic luncheon with cultural entertainment, display tables and presentations that raise diversity awareness.

The group staffs an information booth at city-sponsored events that are diversity related, such as the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in Coachman Park.

In addition the Council is working to establish and maintain diversity awareness in the workplace. Representatives assist the city's Equity Services team to set and meet diversity goals each year for all city departments, from hiring practices to diversity-appropriate behavior, to recognizing and nurturing the benefits that a diverse workforce can bring to the entire organization.

Diversity Leadership Council Meeting Minutes

2011

• March 2011

Recommended Links

• Appreciating Diversity
• Disability-Related Information
• Discrimination Complaints: County and Federal
• Federal Employment Discrimination Laws
• Federal Fair Housing Act
• Florida Discrimination Laws