DEI Equity Audit

In April 2023, the DEI Task Force successfully proposed an Anti-Racism and Anti-Bias Resolution to Annual Town Meeting which included an appropriation of $100,000 to complete an equity audit for the Town. The equity audit assessed all aspects of equity – race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, color, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, socioeconomic status, or other socio-culturally significant factors. 

Wellesley contracted with Racial Equity Group to lead the equity audit, which was conducted in two Phases during 2024. Findings from the audit were used to prepare a summary that was presented to the Select Board in February 2025. The final report includes a best practices gap and barrier analysis and recommends strategic actions for the Town to help address the overall equity audit findings. 

Read the Town of Wellesley DEI Equity Audit Report summary. 

Equity Audit Materials

There are plans to hold a facilitated dialogue with the community in the Fall 2025 to discuss the findings of the Equity Audit and the steps our community, our businesses, and Town government may take to move forward in this work. 

Equity Audit Timeline 

In February and March 2024, Wellesley department heads and staff took part in Phase 1 of the DEI Equity Audit, attending eight foundational training workshops with Racial Equity Group. Staff members learned about tools and metrics to help identify DEI inequities in our community, and how to conduct gap and barrier analysis that will help evaluate Wellesley policies and practices against evidence-based best practices for advancing DEI work. 

In May and June 2024, Town staff completed the DEI Staff Survey Audit Assessment. This survey, developed by our consultants, helped to:

  • Measure staff effectiveness in meeting our Town mission, vision, and values;
  • Established a baseline to measure our commitment to DEI and staff perception of our commitment;
  • Identified more effective approaches for ensuring equal opportunity for everyone;
  • Identified potential training needed to support staff and leadership for advancing DEI in Wellesley government

In July through September 2024, community members were invited to complete the Town of Wellesley DEI Community Survey. Like the staff survey, this information was developed by Racial Equity Group with input from the DEI Task Force, and was intended to:

  • Measure community satisfaction and ensure all stakeholders (e.g. residents, businesses) are treated equitably
  • Ensure all stakeholders have equal access to quality services
  • Help the Town identify and understand the lived experiences of Wellesley community members, and 
  • Discover opportunities to move the Town forward in integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion in all areas of Town government

From September through December 2024, the results from both surveys, along with feedback from focus group interviews with residents and stakeholders, was aggregated by Racial Equity Group.