Through the development of the City's 2025 Strategic Plan and in subsequent goal-setting meetings, the City of Geneva affirmed its commitment to ensuring our community is one that is open, inclusive, and welcoming to all individuals. In an effort to advance this vision and amplify the voice of diverse communities within Geneva, the City has announced the formation of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Task Force.

Once established, the task force will work to develop a strategy to help the City build stronger relationships with diverse communities. Through engagement and listening, the task force will identify issues and any barriers that may prevent friends or neighbors from fully participating in civic life. Acting as a community voice, the task force will prepare and present a report detailing recommended actions the City may take to help ensure Geneva is welcoming to all.

Application Process

The City is seeking individuals to serve on the task force. Anyone interested in serving should submit a completed application no later than 11 p.m. Sunday, May 2. Individuals selected to serve will meet on a regular basis and work in partnership with the City's Strategic Plan Advisory Committee to make lasting and positive change. Those that apply will receive additional details regarding interviews tentatively scheduled for the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday, May 5-6.

The City is seeking a combination of nine Geneva residents and stakeholders to serve on the DEI Task Force. To make sure everyone has a voice at the table, an emphasis will be put on applicants who can speak to diverse perspectives and experiences. No prior municipal or government experience is required to serve. Applicants should be available to attend regularly scheduled meetings and task force-related activities that may be conducted in-person or virtually. Additional information is available in the FAQ document.

The City anticipates appointing task force members later this spring followed by the group convening for its first meeting this summer. The goal is for the task force to complete initial work and present its findings to the community and City Council in 2023. This however will not be the culmination of its work, as the City anticipates the task force to remain engaged with efforts to implement its recommendations.