The swearing in of the first Chief Diversity Officer, Michael Obasohan, at the February 8th city council meeting prompted an emotional debate after some councilors questioned the need for the office.
Berkshire County NAACP executive committee member Kamaar Taliaferro conveyed the group’s support for the office to the 11-member body Tuesday.
“Too often the work of promoting equity and justice has been left to volunteerism," said Taliaferro. "And as kind, caring, compassionate and indefatigable as those volunteers may be, it's just common sense that when a task is a person's job, they are more likely to be effective in accomplishing the task.”
Taliaferro implored the city council to move forward together with “an openness to learn and be self-reflective on this Herculean journey of cultivating an environment of acceptance and appreciation for individuals no matter their beliefs, backgrounds and experiences.”
