Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer Tyra Smith began work January 17. She is the first DEI officer for the City of Greenbelt.
Smith defines diversity as everything that makes a person who they are. Our knowledge and sense of ourselves was developed through lived experiences in different environments, she says, from the clothes we wear, to the way we speak, to the various foods that we eat. One only has to look inward to comprehend that each human being is multifaceted and complex. Diversity is not just about race, class or culture, it is about human growth and development. Smith describes herself as a humanitarian and a creative. She thinks that every human being wants to have an opportunity to do as well as they can within their job or chosen career.
As a Radford University undergraduate, Smith majored in education. In her junior year, Trayvon Martin was murdered, sparking activism that led to the Black Lives Matter movement. She wanted to do something to help reduce tensions at her predominantly white campus, but was unsure about how to do that until she took a sociology course. Sociology became her minor and through that lens she examined the challenges of race, diversity, equity, inclusion and the different layers of identity. While examining oppression and its impact on American society, she concluded that only through the educational process can human/social relationships grow.
Smith has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis on multi-cultural education. Working in the Department of Multi-Cultural services while completing her graduate degree at Texas A&M University, she trained peer instructors about various diversity and inclusion concepts. The instructors trained members of the campus community and helped to improve intercultural relationships at the college.
Seeing the possibilities of educating through DEI work, she obtained employment at Miami University of Ohio in the Center for Diversity and Inclusion where she oversaw various efforts and continued doing trainings to deepen cultural and social relationships on the campus. From there she was hired at a biotech company’s Center for Diversity. That experience was less than fulfilling because she worked remotely and could not see the impact of the training. When she saw the ad for a diversity, equity and inclusion officer in Greenbelt she applied and was hired.
Smith thinks that our city understands that diversity, equity and inclusion are important because they impact the daily lives and interactions of everyone. In studying the history of Greenbelt as a planned city, established in 1937 with amenities within walking distance, she learned that it was a segregated city according to federal housing policies of that era. Smith sees that strides have been made in Greenbelt toward greater diversity and inclusiveness over the years. So far, her interactions with city employees and elected officials have been positive, and there seems to be interest in learning about what DEI means for Greenbelt.
To create this new office, Smith indicated that gathering information from the workforce and community will guide her work going forward. She will hire a DEI consultant to design and implement an audit focused on city agencies and employees. From the audit results, she will develop a strategic plan for the city so that there is a baseline for understanding diversity, equity and inclusion. The strategic plan will also include initiatives for each agency. Trainings will be carried out by each department. DEI will also be part of the orientation for new hires. This first year, she says, will be used for research, development and strategic planning and the second year for implementation.
Smith is aware that she is creating a new position and office, and that there will be pushback and challenges. Her hope is that staff, employees and community will embrace change, even when they feel uncomfortable, for that is the beginning of growth and leads to deeper social and cultural understanding. Change is ever present in life, says Smith. Technological growth has altered our lives in profound ways and most of us have had to adjust and adapt. Diversity, equity and inclusion work is the same.