Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

The City of Salem strives to proactively address and dismantle systemic barriers that perpetuate inequity in society. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) are structures that allow us to challenge these barriers. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion can be defined as follows:

• Diversity: Multiple identities represented in a space. This includes social identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, ability, social class, education level, size, etc... 
• Equity: Constantly and consistently recognizing and redistributing power. “Equality is giving everyone the same pair of shoes. Equity is giving everyone a pair of shoes that fits.”
• Inclusion: Thoughts, ideas and perspectives that all individuals matter and are included in the processes that affect them. 

DEI Training:

The City of Salem holds quarterly DEI Trainings for full time staff to give employees the same baseline understanding of DEI concepts. DEI Director, Regina Zaragoza Frey, facilitates these trainings. The goal is to give employees the tools to incorporate DEI concepts into their everyday work.

The 4-hour onboarding training covers the following concepts:

Part 1:

• Four I's of Oppression
• The "Isms" - Systems of Oppression
• Implicit/Unconscious Bias
• Discussion on Privilege

Part 2:

• Microaggressions (and how to interrupt them)
• Inclusive Language and Translations
• Our systems are not broken - a short history of injustice in the U.S. 
• How DEI applies to all departments in the City of Salem