Apex pushes to increase diversity in town leadership and community events
Apex is putting a stronger focus on being an inclusive community as the town's population grows and becomes more diverse.
The town currently has its first Black mayor, first Black police chief, and first woman and Black town manager.
"I want to make sure every person that drives through Apex, they come here to visit, or even live there, they feel like they belong here," says Jacques Gilbert, mayor of the Town of Apex.
That work is starting inside town hall.
Linda Jones is the town's first director of the new office of diversity, equity, and inclusion - or DEI.
"It’s really about having that understanding of someone else’s perspective," says Jones.
- Today, 45% of town leadership roles are now filled by women.
- In the last year, the town increased people of color on staff from 6% to 23%.
"We want to make sure that we internally prepare ourselves to better reflect our community," says Jones.
Jones is getting ready to roll out a strategic plan that will include more cultural events and DEI training for all town staff.
"We want to celebrate the differences we have in the community," says Jones. "We want people to come to work and we want to make sure we are acknowledging their unique characteristics."
This focus comes two years after a report described "deeply entrenched" racial bias within the town's police force.
"It goes way beyond just what somebody’s race is or what they look like," says Jason Armstrong, the chief of police.
Armstrong took over at the top of the department after that report came out. He started on the job by meeting with every employee and officer.
"A big part was people feeling they were heard and people having confidence that you know, I can share what my story is or I can share what my experience is," he says.
Armstrong says the department is implementing new training and recruiting officers from different backgrounds.
"As a diverse a department we can have, the better that helps us serve the community we serve, because we have a diverse community here in Apex," he says.
Together, they're working together to ensure the Peak of Good Living isn't just a slogan.
"It’s a priority for our town -diversity, equity, and inclusion – because that makes us a stronger community," says Gilbert.
The town is also starting a Minority and Women Business Enterprise program to support minority and women-owned businesses. Apex is also developing a language access plan to provide interpretation services at town meetings and make town forms and documents available in different languages. The town says this is to meet the needs of a growing immigrant population.
