City of Everett holds monthly Lunch and Learn

City staff discussed the importance of cultural humility

Special to The Advocate

The City of Everett held its Lunch and Learn for the month of February at Everett City Hall. That program, which was titled “Cultural Understanding in the Workplace: Part II: Cultural Competence,” was the second in a three-part series. It focused on cultural humility and how it can be used in the workplace to enhance collaboration and the services that are provided by the City.

City staff were pleased to once again be joined by Bishop Regina Shearer, executive pastor of Zion Church Ministries. During the program, she engaged with City staff by encouraging attendees to think about their cultural traditions and the traditional food they consume, while also recognizing the similarities and differences that are shared. Following sharing this information with each other, Bishop Shearer connected it to the importance of understanding the different cultural traditions of coworkers to foster mutual respect and increase productivity between teams. During the presentation, open dialogue between attendees was encouraged for the purpose of learning from each other to create better understanding amongst staff for the betterment of serving constituents.

Lunch and Learn is a monthly program created and moderated by the City of Everett’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department. The program is an opportunity for City staff to come together, share ideas and experiences and discuss new topics while enjoying lunch. The series is a part of the City’s commitment to engage, educate and elevate.