With an eye toward enhanced community inclusivity, the City of Guelph has installed a well-known community leader as its first equity, anti-racism and Indigenous initiatives senior advisor.
Sara Sayyed, who has served on a number of local boards, began in the position on Monday. Her lengthy list of community involvement includes Muslim Society of Guelph, Guelph-Wellington Local Immigration Partnership, Guelph Community Foundation and Guelph General Hospital.
“We’re excited to have a community leader with extensive experience in building relationships and engaging others join our team,” says Scott Stewart, the city’s CAO, in a news release. “Her natural affinity for cultivating relationships and facilitating and building consensus among diverse individuals aligns perfectly with our commitment to making the community and workplace more inclusive.”
In this new role, approved by council last month, Sayyed will lead the city’s creation of a diversity, inclusion and anti-racism action plan that includes strategies, measurable actions and plans for monitoring progress in an effort to “eliminate systemic racism and increase equity for all citizens,” explains the release.
She will also provide guidance to the city’s corporate organization regarding ongoing processes to identify and make changes to eliminate system barriers and inequities, as well as represent the city at anti-racism forums.
