Executive order creates Office to Promote Equity and Inclusion

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Governor Ned Lamont signs an executive order that creates of the Connecticut Office of Equity and Opportunity.

The new state office that will be responsible for leading Connecticut’s efforts to ensure that state government is a leader in equity and inclusion with the goals of eliminating institutional and systemic barriers and creating opportunity and access for all those it serves and employs, according to the Office of the Governor.

Administratively held within the Office of the Governor and funded through existing appropriations, the Office of Equity and Opportunity will be led by a chief equity and opportunity officer who will be appointed by the governor and responsible for coordinating a number of activities prescribed in the executive order related to ensuring that state government offices are representative of the people they serve and that people from different racial, ethnic, gender, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds have a voice in the decision-making processes concerning the policies and practices of state government.

“I firmly believe that government should actively seek out and engage with individuals and opinions beyond those who typically have access and opportunity because doing so will create a stronger workforce within government while also crafting more effective and representative public policies,” Governor Lamont said.

The Governor's announcement Tuesday outlines the following goals:

- Serve as the coordinator of the state’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy

- Support equity-oriented efforts throughout the state to ensure services and resources are available and accessible to all in Connecticut

- Conduct comprehensive assessments of current and proposed policies and practices of state agencies to identify areas where disparities exist, and where underserved communities may face barriers to accessing services

- Develop a formal process for the development and implementation of agency equity plans

- Coordinate the publication of agency equity plans on a centralized and easily accessible website

- Develop equity-oriented systems, policies, and procedures that operationalize diversity, equity, inclusion and support sustainable practices within state agencies

- Identify diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings opportunities for all state employees

- Develop statewide diversity, equity, and inclusion benchmarks and measures of progress

- Oversee and provide guidance to state agencies on how to engage and incorporate the perspectives of underserved communities

- Partner with state agencies to ensure communications with residents are culturally and linguistically appropriate and accessible

- Integrate equity considerations into the budget process and assess the impact of budget decisions

- Provide strategies to promote equitable contracting and purchasing practices

In the coming weeks, the Office of the Governor will post a job listing on the State of Connecticut Executive Branch online job portal seeking candidates to apply for the position of chief equity and opportunity officer. Governor Lamont stressed that he does not yet have a candidate for the position and encourages interested candidates of all backgrounds to apply.