SALEM, MA – The City of Salem is proud to announce the release of its comprehensive Equity Audit Report, a pivotal document aimed at enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in municipal government. The audit focused on the broader Salem community , with an emphasis on how the City can improve community engagement, procurement, participation on Boards and Commissions, and Language Access. The audit, conducted over a ten month timeframe by the selected consultant, ReadySet, highlights Salem’s commitment to ensuring all residents are able to fully engage with city government and to have their voices heard.
“I’m incredibly grateful to ReadySet, the City’s DEI Director, Regina Zaragoza Frey, and all of the City staff and community partners who worked so hard over the past months to prepare this important report,” said Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “This audit is the continuation of our City’s commitment to being a welcoming place that centers equity and justice in our municipal actions and our policies. The final report provides us with a clear roadmap for continuing action in this critically important work.”
Background
Municipalities across Massachusetts have been reevaluating their efforts in promoting inclusive governance and addressing historical inequities. In 2022, the City of Salem’s DEI Director Regina Zaragoza Frey secured a Community Compact Best Practices grant to complete a comprehensive equity audit of City functions. ReadySet Co was the winning bidder to develop the report in order to assess and improve equity and access in City practices, representative bodies, and community engagement efforts. The final report provides the findings of that process, as well as strategic recommendations to help guide Salem toward continued sustainable and inclusive practices.
The equity audit work started in October of 2023. The audit was carried out using a robust methodology that included interviews with key stakeholders, observations of board and commission meetings, materials reviews, on-site community visits, and surveys conducted in English and Spanish. ReadySet’s holistic approach integrated academic research and theory with organizational best practices to create a comprehensive DEI evaluation framework.
Findings
Salem’s early actions, such as appointing a DEI Director and creating the Race Equity Commission, initial approaches to setting up Spanish-language resources within City Hall, and prioritizing community engagement through initiatives like the Mobile Mayor’s Office demonstrate a strong commitment to DEI. However, the audit identified additional opportunities to further improve equity impacts and actions.
The report presents several key findings and recommendations across various focus areas:
- Community Engagement: While Salem’s spirit of volunteerism is strong, there are challenges in ensuring equitable participation and trust. Recommendations include creating open communication channels, improving transparency in city services, and diversifying cultural priorities.
- Procurement & Planning: The audit revealed an over-reliance on established networks, lack of transparency, and barriers for small businesses in procurement processes. Recommendations focus on enhancing clarity, monitoring fairness, and expanding vendor diversity. In addition, the City is adding DEI-related questions to all RFPs’ selection criteria moving forward to inquire about bidders’ ability to lead equitable and inclusive processes and capacity to incorporate language access outreach on projects involving the community.
- Boards & Commissions: The analysis identified complexity in understanding the roles of various boards and commissions, limited diversity, and procedural barriers. Recommendations include developing clear resources on the city’s website, increasing representation, and simplifying participation processes.
- Language Access: Recognizing the diverse linguistic needs of the community, the report highlights the importance of language justice. Recommendations include translating key documents, providing interpretation services, and establishing partnerships with local organizations to support non-English speaking residents. This year the City is launching its first Language Access Policy, furthering community members’ abilities to access important municipal services, documents, and materials in Spanish or English.
Moving Forward
The City of Salem is dedicated to implementing these recommendations and maintaining open, transparent communication with all community members. By addressing these critical areas, Salem aims to create a more inclusive, equitable, and engaged community where every resident is valued and heard.
For more information, please visit the City of Salem’s official website or contact the Office of DEI.
