Assistant Fire Chief (Ret.) Los Angeles City Fire Department
General Session Day 3
There is no better way to wrap up your FRI experience than with Friday’s general session, Close out the conference with an insightful look at race, diversity and inclusion in the fire service with our keynote speaker. We will end the event with the installation of your 2022-2023 IAFC Officers.
“Strategies for Leading Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in the Fire Service” The current discourse on race and gender equity in the United States is primarily centered on social, political, and economic events as it effects the larger population. However, work environments and public services have also been impacted and now face new cultural standards concerning the history of systemic racism, lack of gender equity, diversity and lack of inclusion and belonging. Governmental laws mandating Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunities, and federal directives concerning affirmative action have resulted in several decades of hiring, diversity training and anti-discrimination policies in organizations throughout the United States. However, these approaches have not resulted in overcoming discrimination. Therefore, innovative approaches are needed that include organizational entities in the current conversation. Despite the development of multiple approaches to affirmative action diversity training, the phenomenon of discrimination in fire department organizations continues to exist. As a result, discrimination lawsuits continue to increase to become the main avenue of organizational learning and accountability. Like all public services, fire departments need to determine how to implement sustainable systems and policies to achieve racial and gender equity. Unfortunately, there has been a lack of understanding concerning organizational learning about diversity and the impact of diversity on the work environment. The purpose of this presentation is to explore how the increase in diversity within the Los Angeles City Fire Department has affected the organizational learning dynamics about diversity among firefighters. The presentation will present an overview of a recent doctoral study of diverse firefighters and will include research findings and strategies to lead a diverse workforce. Participants will deepen their understanding about the importance of race, gender, sexual orientation, cultural values, beliefs, and perspectives while discovering new opportunities to create critical dialogue and develop courageous fire service leadership acumens in the work environment. An in-depth discussion will follow the presentation to allow for feedback and further development of organizational learning about diversity opportunities for fire service leaders. Dr. Kwame Cooper, Assistant Fire Chief (Ret.), Los Angeles City Fire Department
2022-2023 Installation of Officers Chief Donna Black, Duck (NC) Fire Department, President Chief John Butler, Fairfax County (VA) Fire Department, 1st Vice President Chief Josh Waldo, Bozeman (MT) Fire Department, 2nd Vice President Chief Steven Locke, South Burlington (VT) Fire Department, Treasurer
