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Howard County is hiring a diversity, equity and inclusion manager to bridge racial disparities that officials say still exist in the county.
County Executive Calvin Ball (D) announced Monday he鈥檚 looking for an Equity and Restorative Practices manager. The move follows recommendations from a聽聽that was released in January of 2019, shortly after Ball took office.
In addition to recommending a manager to oversee diversity and inclusion in the county, that report also urged Ball to create a plan to attract and retain a diverse and inclusive workforce. Report authors also asked Ball to conduct a disparity study to look at contracting practices in the county.
鈥淭he current pandemic has only highlighted the disparities and discrimination that so many people face 鈥� there is an urgent need to address inequity in our community,鈥� Ball said in a Monday statement.
Racial equity is still an issue in Howard County: A聽聽by the Horizon Foundation found that people of color lag behind white people when it comes to health in the county. The report found that, despite Howard County鈥檚 wealth, Black infants in the county die at more than double the rate of white infants, and Black mothers are 83% more likely than white mothers to give birth to a premature baby.
The report also found that Latina and Black mothers are twice as likely as white mothers to receive poor or no prenatal care.
Yolanda Sonnier, the administrator of Howard County鈥檚 newly renamed Office of Human Rights and Equity, said she hopes the new position will help close the county鈥檚 equity gaps.
鈥淗oward County is a great place to live and work but there are still substantial disparities that exist here,鈥� Sonnier said. 鈥淚n order to improve the disparities and inequities, we must identify them, and this position will work towards making the County a more equitable place for all.鈥�
The position will be open from Monday through Sept. 11. Read the full job posting聽.
