The city of Westerville, Westerville for Racial Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Engagement (WeRISE) and the Westerville Public Library all recently announced the hiring of leaders to drive work toward diversity, equity and inclusion in roles created within the past year.
The city of Westerville has named Jonathan Bentley as director of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Bentley was scheduled to start in his role July 26. The public is invited to meet him at the Westerville City Council meeting on Sept. 7.
His base salary is $105,019 plus benefits, said Erica Charles, Westerville community-affairs specialist.
Bentley most recently worked for the city of Youngstown as executive director and equal-employment-opportunity officer of its Human Relations Commission.
He’s the first to hold this new role that was created by Monica Irelan, Westerville city manager, when she began in her position in January.
In Youngstown, Bentley managed the city’s Human Relations Commission, mediating and/or resolving disputes and settlements on various issues of discrimination in the areas of education, fair employment and fair housing.
He also created workforce programs to match individuals with available employment opportunities and managed other employment and career-training needs in Youngstown and the surrounding areas. Bentley also has conducted training with law-enforcement agencies.
“Jonathan brings experience that will shape our inclusion efforts,” Irelan said. “He can help us fully form our plans, as well as maximize the impact we can have on policy development and partnerships. Westerville has a tradition of attracting strong talent, and Jonathan is no exception.”
Bentley said Irelan’s language that the DEI director will “bridge the gap between internal programs and external efforts, building alliances with organizations confronting racism,” was resolute, bold and attention-getting.
“It was very clear to me that Westerville is serious about internal and external development to be a gold-standard community in diversity, inclusion and equity,” he said. “We have to define the role of local government in that objective and invite partners to come along with us.”
Bentley has a master’s degree in higher education from Youngstown State University and graduated from the Ohio State University with a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology.
Bentley and his family, including wife Selena and young children, moved to central Ohio in July.
WeRISE leader
“Greater Westerville is moving in the right direction to eradicate racism,” said Vashitta Johnson, WeRISE board president.
WeRISE has hired Renée Thompson as its executive director for the nonprofit organization founded in 2021 with community and board support.
Her first day on the job was July 8.
The Westerville Public Library also recently hired Aneeza Pasha-Stamm as its new equity development specialist.
“WeRISE is looking forward to working together with these two amazing new hires as we continue to further our anti-racist agenda,” Johnson said.
The mission of WeRISE is to eradicate individual and structural racism in the greater Westerville community, according to its website.
The website further states, “This organization will lead collaborative anti-racism efforts, driving meaningful, lasting and equitable change.”
With Thompson at the helm, WeRISE will lead collaborative anti-racism efforts while also leading meaningful, lasting and equitable change, according to a news release from Colleen Moidu, WeRISE board member.
As the executive director of WeRISE for Greater Westerville, Thompson said, she looks forward to combining her experience and passion for equity and justice through crucial and civil community conversations.
Thompson most recently was the founder and president of Unlimited Potential for Achievement, where she taught the benefits of the diverse potentials, talents and strengths that reside within individuals and organizations.
Prior to establishing that organization, Thompson served as the director of diversity and inclusion at the Ohio State University in Mansfield.
During her tenure at Ohio State Mansfield, she gained a reputation for reframing the conversation of diversity to one that celebrates all aspects of diversity.
Library leader
In Pasha-Stamm’s role as equity development specialist at the library, she’s responsible for the coordination and implementation of equity and diversity initiatives, programs and policies.
“We understand that every policy and procedure put into place may also bring invisible and unintended barriers to access,” said Erin Francoeur, executive director of the Westerville Public Library. “We’re looking at everything – from our loan rules to our hiring practices – from multiple angles to ensure that all who walk through our doors are given equal access. A dedicated position like this allows us to focus on this work and amplify the efforts of other organizations within our community to create lasting change.”
Prior to joining the library June 8, Pasha-Stamm founded Kula Resilience, a registered LLC with a mission to support nonprofits in the U.S. and internationally in their strategies to counteract poverty, insecurity and crisis.
Her professional background of the international nonprofit sector brings experience from 22 countries, including Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nepal.
mkuhlman@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekMarla
