Let's Talk: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Workforce Development
Ahead of his 2023 session at Government Innovation New York, we're sharing a chat we had with Oswaldo Mestre Jr., Chief Service Officer & Director of Citizen Services for the City of Buffalo Division of Citizen Services. In it, he highlights the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in workforce development. Join Oswaldo at his next talk - all about Building Successful Data Relationships - at the 2023 Government Innovation New York event on May 17th.
Transcript:
PSN: Can you tell us about your role?
Oswaldo Mestre Jr: "I act as the city's ombudsman and actually deal with all types of engagements with the City of Buffalo. And so my department chiefly interacts with residents and citizens and also other city departments as well."
PSN: Can you tell us a bit about your session? What are the attendee's key takeaways?
Oswaldo Mestre Jr.: "We talked about workforce and workforce development and also looking at DEI practices and able to recruit and retain workers that are reflective of the communities that we serve. So one of the lessons that we learned here is to be very deliberate, is to be very conscious about it, looking at the information, the data, but also understanding this term of what we say DEI is, or what we're talking about, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and have it be reflective of the very employment places that we work at. And I think that's a very important thing."
PSN: Why do you think peer-to-peer learning environments are crucial for government?
Oswaldo Mestre Jr.: "Oh, peer-to-peer engagement is important. We learn from our peers. We take little tricks of the trade, but it makes it very comfortable that when we are being innovative, when we're being very forward-thinking, that we have a group of our peers that say, "You know what? That was good. Can I learn from that? Can we take from that?" I always say there's no pride in authorship here. If something is being done downstate or if there is something being done across the country, it might be being done in my area as well too. And so this is very, very important that we learn with this. We've done a lot of Zooming and Teaming and all of these other things. And so when you get an opportunity to actually listen and talk, and even after the session, there's a lot of team building, there's a lot of connection, there's a lot of networking that you take. So that after the conference here, you're going to continue those relationships."
PSN: Why should colleagues attend the New York Innovation Showcase in 2023?
Oswaldo Mestre Jr.: "Well, I think it's important. Doing PSN events has been honestly very important to me, not only to speaking, but also learning. I say do it. Sometimes folks are like, oh, they don't want to get out of their comfort zone. Go to a conference. Go and hear what other colleagues have to say. And you might just find validation in terms of the work that you've been able to do along the way so that you can continue it. And so my advice, come, let's go, let's do it."
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