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City’s first diversity leader joins staff

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Understanding diversity is in Taj Suleyman’s blood – literally.

The new director of diversity, equity and inclusion for the city of Springfield, Suleyman was born and raised in Lebanon by a Saudi Arabian mother and Sudanese father. He moved to the U.S. 21 years ago as a refugee, and said his background gives him a unique lens on issues of diversity and equity.

“I’ve developed the compassion to navigate intercultural conflict, to see these issues of race, of gender, and intersectional issues in a very broad perspective rather than just funnel it with a lack of awareness of what is happening when we’re looking at a conflict or disparity,” Suleyman said.

Suleyman joined the city’s leadership team on May 16.

Along with bibs and camouflage boots to prepare for a Midwestern winter, Suleyman said he brought with him an understanding of different cultures and communities and an educational background suited to his new role.

Suleyman received a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and a master’s degree in intercultural relations from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Prior to coming to Springfield, Suleyman lived in Utah, Oregon and Iowa. In Dubuque, Iowa, he served as equity outreach coordinator for the city and most recently was director of equity for Dubuque Community Schools.

Having lived in a variety of communities, Suleyman said he understands the necessity of understanding a community’s culture.

“It’s a unique lens in addressing diversity, equity and inclusion,” Suleyman said. “There are multiple disciplines out there that can often miss the opportunity of recognizing the cultural context of a community. Kind of a copy, paste – something sounds cool in Vancouver, let me bring it into the community and put it here.”

It isn’t that simple.

“It’s like a plant. Will it survive in here? What type of soil do we need? What type of ideal or model?” he said. “How can we nurture it, that it’s not foreign to the cultural context but it’s actually helpful for the business, institutions, the community.”

A new opportunity
Darla Morrison, director of human resources for the city, said the new position was originally developed at the beginning of 2020, but it was put on hold during necessary budget cuts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Morrison said city leaders became aware of a need for a leadership team position dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

“We felt it was critical to not just express statements of support but take concrete steps to dedicate greater resources and leadership with specific expertise in the area to lead the city’s efforts and to drive progress in this important work,” Morrison said.

Goals for the position included ramping up the city’s DEI initiatives, implementing new strategies and serving as a resource for the Mayor’s Commission on Human Rights and Community Relations.

The nationwide search process began in September 2020, Morrison said, after creation of the position was approved by Springfield City Council. The position drew 129 applicants, of which four were interviewed. The process took about six months.

“While the city was anxious to hire a new leader in this area and move forward as soon as possible, the focus was on finding the right person to lead,” Morrison said.

Suleyman was selected based on his experience with DEI leadership and knowledge, with the bonus of experience in the public sector.

“His knowledge and understanding of issues faced by immigrants and other members of subgroup populations is unique and extensive,” Morrison said.

The position reports directly to City Manager Jason Gage and does not create a new department, meaning no other new staff positions have been created. Suleyman’s annual salary will be $112,500.

Suleyman said the city’s decision to include the DEI position as part of the leadership team shows commitment to the work.

“The city, everybody watches. When you see that position, where it’s placed initially, it tells a lot about the commitment,” he said. “You can put that position in a place where you isolate it, and you check the box, or you can insert it in the organizational structure where it’s effective while also recognizing the top-down, bottom-up dynamic.”

Personally, Suleyman was pulled toward working in DEI by the need for the work and the conversations it inspires.

“There’s a need, not only locally but also on a state level, nationally, internationally. There’s a recognition that it’s good for business,” Suleyman said. “That’s a gap that needs to be filled, and it needs to be filled with mindfulness, with empathy. Yes, there are uncomfortable conversations, but there is an outcome that everyone can celebrate. That’s something I felt passionate toward.”

Getting started
As he begins in his new role, Suleyman’s first focus is organization within the city.

“The position initially will focus on the internal systems and processes for equity – looking at the data, the demographics, how we engage our community.” Suleyman said. “Looking at, since this is a service-oriented organization, how are we providing our services equitably to the community. Are we culturally competent?”

However, he recognizes that in order to focus internally on a public-serving organization, the external cannot be ignored.

“We’re looking at the internal system in place to make sure equity is not just talked about while we’re ‘singing Kumbaya,’ but how we operationalize our equity work. What does that look like?” he said. “In order to do that, we have to look at the demographics. We have to look at the changes that are happening. We have to look at the racial, gender, generational, socioeconomic. We have to look at all of it, in the community. We can’t be in silos. We have to be aware of what the community needs when we focus internally.”

Suleyman said he is developing specific plans and action items as he learns about Springfield’s needs. In his early days in the position, he is focusing on equity of the city’s offered services, but has sights set on a future of working with other organizations.

“There will be work not only with higher ed, but hopefully with K-12 schooling, with businesses, with hospitals. There will be ongoing work,” Suleyman said. “I don’t know what this is going to look like.”

Learning a new community, Suleyman said he doesn’t see challenges, but opportunities. One is that the conversation around DEI already has begun in Springfield, not only at the city but other organizations with recent DEI director additions including Springfield Public Schools and Ozarks Technical Community College.

“There are still folks that aren’t on the same page, and that’s an opportunity. If I asked you to define diversity, it might differ from how I define diversity. That could be viewed as a challenge, but I feel I could be the glue to develop a shared definition around diversity, equity and inclusion concepts.”

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