Gastonia hires diversity coordinator
Gastonia has hired a person to help employees and the community with diversity, equity and inclusion issues.
Cherie Jzar, 44, began work with the city on Jan. 4. A certified city planner, Jzar has more than 18 years of experience in community planning, outreach and engagement, public relations, neighborhood development, and program management, according to the city. She will earn a salary of $92,000 a year with the city.
"We're trying to make sure we're doing everything in a straightforward way," said Mayor Walker Reid, "and that we are considering diversity, equity and inclusion in all of our decision-making."
Paying attention to diversity and inclusion issues has become a growing trend around the nation and Gastonia wants to be transparent in the way it conducts business, Reid said.