What do a dream and jobs have in common?
If you attended the downtown march and tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the march on Washington, you probably already have an idea.
Yes, these two issues are tightly interwoven.
Some of you will likely stop reading right here. Others will continue.
When Springfield architect Tim Rosenbury was chairman of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2010, he kicked off a community conversation about diversity and how Springfield might need to look in the mirror and decide whether we are going to become a more welcoming community.
The chamber recognized the connection between economic development and community diversity a few years ago. During a visit to a large corporation’s home office, the CEO told us, face-to-face, the company might not be willing to expand its presence in Springfield because their workforce might not feel comfortable here. That stopped us in our tracks. Our lack of diversity and, more specifically, our perceived lack of welcoming diversity, is impacting our economic development?
Who would not feel comfortable in Springfield?
Um, you and I both know folks who would just as soon “those people” not move to Springfield. And these are some of the people who wonder why we can’t attract more high-paying jobs to the area.
What type of city will attract educated, creative workers in the future? Will these workers all look like me?
King had a dream of a level playing field. Those of us who have enjoyed “white privilege” our entire lives need to wake up. Does Springfield provide a level playing field?
Scott Miller, general manager of City Utilities, and I have been co-chairing a group of members from public entities focused on determining ways we can help level the playing field. We have work to do as the Public Entities’ Diversity Initiative Task Force, but we have a plan, and I believe we are moving the needle.
Despite the incredible success and civic pride that resulted from the Aug. 28 anniversary events, this is only the beginning.
The Greater Springfield Race & Faith Collaborative, which hosted the recent downtown march and tribute, is planning four quarterly events through next year, culminating July 2014 with a 50th anniversary celebration of the signing of the Civil Rights Act. You will soon be hearing more about the community conversations planned.
I hope you will join us for this conversation. If you sit on the sidelines, you might be the next person sitting across from a company CEO that says to you, “I’m not sure we are willing to move our company to your city because I’m not sure we will feel welcome there.”
Springfield, this is your wake-up call.
Springfield City Manager Greg Burris can be reached at gburris@springfieldmo.gov.
