You could say we are a pair of government enthusiasts with a penchant for all things public administration. Between the two of us, we have service to our country (thank you, Ben), a city, a town, a village, multiple colleges and universities, a nonprofit, and a state government department; and we both presently serve in leadership positions at our respective county governments, one urban and large (Ben) and one more rural and small (Ian).

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) efforts had been taking place within our organization for several years, but were more formalized in 2020, shortly after the killing of George Floyd. That summer, the assistant managers and I conducted 30 listening sessions throughout our departments. We had widespread participation from our workforce and heard the experiences of Black employees, along with others. This meaningful input helped us on our path to continue to ensure the equitable and fair treatment of our staff and residents.

We invite you to take a look into these three communities. See how these counties are making positive change for their residents.

Franklin County, Ohio: Building Its Future One Graduate at a Time

After Six Years of Research, Jail Renovation Begins in Montgomery County, Ohio

Fire Marshal Launches Drone Unit to Aid in Disaster Response and Recovery in Buncombe County, North Carolina