Mayor Stimpson Announces Action Steps on Race, Equity and Inclusion

Jul 7th, 2020

Posted in: PurchasingMayor

MOBILE, Ala. - Mayor Sandy Stimpson today announced a series of action steps designed to advance the City’s progress on the issues of race, equity and inclusion.
 
The City is expanding its current, successful Supplier Diversity program and setting new goals for minority contracting. Going forward, the newly expanded Office of Supplier Diversity will help the City establish clear guidelines for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and recruit businesses and potential workforce. The office, led by Archnique Kidd, will also conduct a business disparity study.
 
The City of Mobile has also created a new and innovative website to attract Section 3 businesses and workforce. All businesses and residents living or working in an under-resourced community qualify as a Section 3 business. To learn more, visit the website at https://workwith.cityofmobile.org/ .
 
“This is the continuation of a long road toward equitable justice in the City of Mobile,” said Mayor Stimpson. “We are focused on extending prosperity to all members of our community, so that we all may share in the benefit of a thriving City. We are making steady progress but we still have more work to do.”
 
The proposal received approval by the Mobile City Council at today’s meeting.
 
Also today, Mayor Stimpson announced the creation of a task force to review policies and practices across many aspects of local government including the Mobile Police Department, Human Resources, Finance, Business Procurement, and Community Development.
 
The task force will have 90 days to provide recommendations to the Mayor’s office. Members of the task force will be announced in coming weeks.
 
The specific agenda for the task force will include:

• Use of force policies within the Mobile Police Department
• Law enforcement policy reforms including the national “8 Can’t Wait” guidelines
• Use of body cameras
• Review of MPD’s implementation of 21st Century Policing
• Recruitment, selection, training, retention and the disciplinary process of officers
• Implementation of implicit bias training in all City departments
• Review of City practices in the Diversity Supplier Department
• Review of City policies for racial or biased language

 
In parallel to the task force’s work, the City will also:

• Conduct a citizens’ survey for recommendations
• Focus on economic opportunity strategies in underrepresented communities
• Work with community organizations to expand the City’s involvement in the “My Brother’s Keeper Initiative”