Diversity


The City of Roanoke is a proud member of the Welcoming America and New American Economy's competitive Gateways for Growth Challenge.

Diversity & Cultural Competence
Diversity encompasses all those differences that make us unique, including but not limited to race, color, ethnicity, language, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, gender, socio-economic status, age, and physical and mental ability. Cultural competence is a process of lifelong learning that results in knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes that allow us to interact effectively with others from different cultural backgrounds and it increases the ability of organizations to maximize the benefits of diversity from within their workforces.

Inclusion Statement

To elevate the performance of the organization, we will respect, celebrate, and embrace, the collective mixture of differences and similarities of our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, seeking opportunities to learn, and recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

 B.R.I.D.G.E.  Council

Every employee's unique perspective helps to shape the culture of the City of Roanoke as an organization. Each individual's unique gifts and talents enhance the public service experience of our citizens and coworkers. The purpose of the council is to communicate the importance of diversity, to act as diversity champions, to review and implement best practices, and to identify the needs of customer/citizen groups.

The Diversity Advisory Council (DAC) has been restructured and renamed. We are now the B.R.I.D.G.E Council guided by the values of:  Belonging, Respect, Inclusion, Diversity, Global Thinking and Equity. We feel this is more representative of our group and how we hope to guide the City's workforce in the pursuit of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Setting Up Success

The success of any organization is contingent upon a workplace where employees are encouraged to serve, appreciate, respect, and value the variety of differences that exist in a shared community. Towards this end, the B.R.I.D.G.E. Council was formed of employees who volunteered to develop and implement strategies to embed inclusion into our culture and core values and to serve as inclusion champions for the organization. This council:
 

  • Promotes an environment where each individual member of a diverse workforce feels valued and belongs
  • Develops workers to his or her working potential
  • Contributes to the organization's success

 

Relationships

As an organization, the City of Roanoke is committed to fostering a culture where the best people want to work, grow, and excel. In 2006, city administration formed a Diversity Advisory Council of employees who have volunteered to develop and implement strategies to embed inclusion into our culture. 

Members of this council actively seek to promote diversity in order to elevate the performance of the organization by respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities of employees. 

 Responsibilities

The council identifies opportunities to provide employees with an understanding that moves beyond diversity awareness to what it means to incorporate personal behaviors and performance which demonstrates an inclusive culture. As champions for diversity, the council seeks to influence departmental behaviors and performance to sustain an inclusive work environment. The B.R.I.D.G.E. complements and works in harmony with various organizational initiatives. All of these efforts are dedicated to better serving the needs of our increasingly diverse workplace and citizenry.

Are you a City employee and interested in joining the Council? 
 Email: [email protected]
 

Roanoke-Based Diversity Resources


Diversity: African American


Diversity: Asian


Diversity: Disabled 


Diversity: Hispanic & Latino