Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI, sometimes known as DEIB, to include belonging) has frequently been in the news this year. Across the country, DEI seems to be under attack. Countless universities, businesses and organizations have eliminated these programs. Yet at Seattle Municipal Court (SMC), DEI isn’t going away anytime soon.
“We continue to live in a society where people from marginalized and disadvantaged communities are NOT treated equally, equitably, and/or have a sense of inclusion and belongings in the spaces they are in,” said SMC’s Presiding Judge Faye R. Chess.
Chess, who has been SMC’s presiding judge since January 2023, saw a need to put a lens on the court and hired an external consultant to evaluate cultural effectiveness and DEI within the organization. When the consultancy completed its analysis, it provided an actionable plan for improving the court’s organizational culture.
In the spring of 2023, Judge Chess promoted court employee Victoria Moreland (who was initially hired to do community engagement) into the role of director of equity and engagement. Chess saw the need to make DEI a permanent fixture at the court and leveraged Moreland’s expertise in empathy training to make an impact beyond what the consultant recommended and to build on existing DEI efforts at the court.
“SMC’s staff—as well as well as the people it serves—come from these marginalized and disadvantaged communities,” said Chess. “If SMC is to continue in its mission to be viewed as a fair and equitable tribunal for the citizens of Seattle and surrounding communities, then it must continue in its investment in the work of DEIB (Diversity, Equality, Inclusion, and Belonging),” she continued.
Moreland sees her role as helping positively shape the perception of SMC, both internally and externally. This starts with building trust with people at all levels.
“After many conversations with a variety of people, it has been possible to shift and change their once negative or skeptical view of SMC into a positive one,” Moreland said. “What is also helping is that we are getting out into the community more, by being present at City-sponsored community events, as well as bringing back SMC’s Community Relief Day after a two-year-long hiatus due to the pandemic.”
In the past year since diving into this new role, Moreland has reconvened a Race & Social Justice (RSJ) workgroup at the court, is developing equity and empathy training for staff that centers the court’s values, and is encouraging staff to feel welcome and talk to their peers about topics important to them at the court’s biweekly internal town halls.
Because of the growing work, the court hired Linh Le, an equity and engagement program specialist, in early 2024. She helps amplify this new RSJ/DEI work at the court.
“This work must be incorporated in the daily activities that goes on within and outside of the four corners of the courthouse for it to be called a fair and equitable tribunal,” said Judge Chess. “I’m glad we are embracing it.”