City of Malden completes REACH program to promote racial equity

Special to The Advocate

The City of Malden is proud to share that it has completed the Massachusetts Racial Equity Advancement & Collaborative Hub (REACH) program. This was a year-long initiative led by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), which oversaw the program in partnership with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). The REACH program provided tools and strategies to help government teams address racial inequalities and build more inclusive policies and services. The program is designed to serve as a platform for municipal teams to engage in dialogue, learning and strategizing that emphasizes collaboration, knowledge exchange, continuous growth and support for racial equity, both in city and town government as well as the broader community.

Malden joined the communities of Acton, Arlington, Framingham, Hamilton, Hudson, Lowell, Lynn, Milton, Natick and Salem, which came together over the course of the past year to collaboratively work on making their municipalities more inclusive and equitable. Malden’s Core Team, also known as “Malden United,“ consisted of representatives from departments across the City of Malden who consistently interface with the public and included Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator Kashawna Harling, Special Assistant to the Mayor Maria Luise, City Clerk Carol Ann Desiderio, Assistant Human Resources Director Crystal Morano, Malden Police Detective Lieutenant Michael Powell, Housing and Community Development Deputy Director Alex Pratt,  Recreation Department Administrative Assistant Laura Perez, City Treasurer Dan Grover, Salemwood School Principal Van Huynh and Councillor-at-Large Carey McDonald. Malden’s team worked hard – attending sessions and collaborating with other cities. They focused on ways to improve racial equity by learning how to plan, organize and take action. One of the key tools they explored was the Racial Equity Tool (RET), which helps cities evaluate policies and programs to ensure fairness and inclusion.

“The REACH program was an invaluable experience,” said Kashawna Harling. “It gave us the tools to help make Malden a place where everyone feels welcome, heard, and comfortable participating – whether as a resident or a city staff member.”

The completion of the REACH program marks an important step in Malden’s ongoing efforts to ensure every community member has a voice and access to equal opportunities. For more information about Malden’s work on racial equity, please contact Kashawna Harling at kharling@cityofmalden.org.