Gaithersburg became one of 11 jurisdictions participating in the Racial Equity Regional Learning Cohort sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments in partnership with the Government Alliance on Race & Equity in 2019. Five City staff participated in a yearlong program designed to help governments normalize conversations about race and advance racial equity. Focus areas included public safety and court services; community development; planning, zoning and housing; transportation and mobility; governing and business; procurement; human resources; and leadership and workforce development.

The team’s work became the basis for the Racial Equity Awareness & Action Plan, and its members continue to play an integral role in the initiative.

In 2023, a second City of Gaithersburg group joined a Regional Learning Cohort, a 10-month long program for local governmental jurisdictions to build operational capacity for racial equity.

Participating Departments:

• Parks, Recreation & Culture
• Information Technology
• City Manager’s Office
• Office of Racial Equity Diversity & Inclusion
• Planning & Code Administration
• Finance & Administration
• Public Works
• Police Department
• Communications & Public Engagement

As a member of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Gaithersburg participates in the organization’s Chief Equity Officer Committee. The purpose of the COG Chief Equity Officers Committee (COG CEO) is to advance racial equity within COG programs and committees, COG member local governments, and throughout the metropolitan Washington region. The Committee will support COG’s mission to be anti-racist and advance racial equity through work focused on implementing policies and practices that promote racial equity for all area residents and throughout COG’s analyses, operations, procurement, programs, and priorities. The Committee’s work will support the Chief Administrative Officers, the COG Board of Directors, and policy committees. The Committee is comprised of the Chief Equity Officer, or equity lead, from each COG jurisdiction.

The City’s REDI Program Manager, Hazel Monae, serves as co-chair of the COG CEO Committee.