On Monday July 20, Salida City Council discussed the possibility of undergoing Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-bias training before discussing any potential changes to the Salida government, specifically, policing.
“This seems like an opportunity to at least share some observations and experiences with you,” said Wendell Pryor of the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation. “First of all, I think what everyone needs to be about is raising awareness to be inclusive.”
Wendell Pryor, Director of Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation. Courtesy photo
Pryor has over 20 years of experience teaching as an adjunct professor in both Colorado and California. Most recently where he has honed his skill in the area of inclusivity is his association with the graduate school of the University of Colorado – Denver. He was asked to become a senior fellow for diversity and inclusion and develop strategies for the six core classes for graduate students there.
Pryor was the Human Resource Director of the City of Aurora, acting Director with the City and County of Denver as well as the Human Resource Director for the City of Riverside California, Oakland California, and City and County of San Francisco. Pryor ran the Colorado state employee associate in the 1990’s and later went on in state government to direct the civil rights division for Colorado for a little over five years.
In 2015 he trained the entire Boulder Police Department on unconscious bias, diversity, and inclusion. Following this work, he created the City of Englewood University which provided training for that city. Last year Pryor taught another Diversity and Inclusion seminar for graduate students at CU Denver.
Pryor is providing this training on a pro bono basis. He said he wants to help “the community conversation along. One of the reasons I stepped up and stepped out is that you issued a statement and a statement without action doesn’t go far.”
City Council was very welcoming to the idea and plans to develop a draft curriculum with Pryor’s help that is best suited for the council’s needs.
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