MWRA's mission is the provision of reliable, cost-effective, high quality water and wastewater treatment services, that protects the public health, promotes environmental stewardship, maintains customer confidence and supports a vital economy. Recruiting, developing and retaining a high-performance workforce that reflects our service area and underscores our core principles of diversity, equity and inclusion, enables us to achieve our mission, brings value to our staff and makes us better able to serve the ratepayers.
We believe MWRA staff are stronger as a team when we include diverse perspectives, experiences and approaches, which fosters continuous improvement and performance as an Authority.
MWRA’s commitment to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion is reflected in our 5-Year Strategic Plan, a management tool for prioritizing and advancing critical strategic initiatives, as a key initiative.
Our Diversity
MWRA is proud of the diversity of our employees. We make sure to include equity in our recruiting programs to ensure equal access to opportunity. We also have programs available to promote equal access to procurement and contracting opportunities for minority, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses. Here at MWRA, we celebrate our diversity with events hosted by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, including our annual Pride Walk and monthly Lunch & Learns.
Why It Matters
Equity and justice, environmental and otherwise, is one of the most pressing issues of our time. We feel that it is our responsibility to ensure that equity is present not only within our own organization, but within the communities we serve, to the best of our abilities.
DEI Committee, Workplace Culture and Employee Engagement and Inclusion
MWRA established its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee in 2020 to attract and retain a diverse, high qualified and engaged workforce and to foster an inclusive, equitable and safe work environment and culture for all of MWRA’s employees. The DEI Committee is co-chaired by the Director of Administration and the Special Assistant, AACU and consists of a wide variety of MWRA staff representing each MWRA Division. The committee embodies MWRA’s core values of equity and equality and ensures that equity is ensured in all of MWRA’s actions.
The DEI Committee has several programs and initiatives intended to enhance employee engagement, inclusion and sense of belonging. The inspirational external speaker series highlights individuals, who in their own personal and professional lives, have sought to advance the ideals of diversity, equity, inclusion and environmental justice. Those speakers have included a former state senator, the executive director of a watershed association, the Climate Chief for Massachusetts and a filmmaker.
The internal “Lunch and Learn” speaker series gives individuals and groups of employees the opportunity to share what they do with their colleagues while highlighting a variety of MWRA staff, programs, successes and challenges. Topics have included women’s history month, MWRA’s Combined Sewer Overflow program and MWRA’s energy program and environmental justice efforts.
Cultural and Heritage months are celebrated in a number of ways. A Pride walk celebrating MWRA’s LGBTQ+ employees, a Caribbean American lunch and displays celebrating Irish-Americans and Asian-Americans are just some examples of those recognitions and celebrations.
- September Lunch & Learn
Training is a critical component of MWRA’s efforts to maintain a diverse and highly qualified workforce and a workplace environment and culture that is inclusive, equitable, engaged and safe. Those trainings include harassment prevention, unconscious bias and respect in the workplace. There is also a robust internal mentor program and “emerging leader” training opportunities for staff.
