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Diversity Statement

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) envisions a government free of misconduct, waste, and corruption where the City’s resources and access to its services are distributed equitably. OIG recognizes that misconduct, waste, and corruption impact Chicagoans differently based on racial, geographic, and other demographic factors and that fraud, waste, and corruption can compound preexisting inequities. 

OIG is committed to promoting racial equity by evaluating and incorporating equity concerns throughout all of its work in the service of its mission. 

Workforce diversity

OIG is an inclusive organization that hires and develops staff at all levels regardless of race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, age, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law. 

OIG strives to create a workplace where a socially diverse group of people can thrive professionally. We pride ourselves in meeting our legal charge to promote economy, effectiveness, efficiency, and integrity in government. Through the hard work of our passionate and innovative team, OIG aims to serve every community with equity, respect, and dignity. 

Community engagement

Communities that have lost trust in government institutions demand and deserve transparency and accountability. Asking community members what’s important to them at the outset of our inquiries and audits, and getting first-person stories of impact, will ensure that audits of government programs and the potential change they engender will have a meaningful impact on the lives of those who are most affected. 

At OIG, community engagement is not an afterthought but rather an integral part of the audit process. This means involving communities in the pre-launch phase, gathering input and feedback during the research phase, and sharing the findings during the post-publication phase. OIG’s practices for community engagement include developing a community engagement project plan, identifying and engaging with community partners, and using appropriate virtual and IRL (in real-life) channels, and strategies to reach different audiences. 

OIG’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion permeates our approach to outreach and connecting with the community. See a map of OIG outreach events and individuals served on the Information Portal.  

Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP)

OIG’s Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP) was created by the Race and Equity Learning Cohort in support of the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice and adopted by OIG in 2023. OIG’s three priority areas are to: 

  1. Enhance OIG’s current dashboards with demographic and socioeconomic information at the ward, community area, police district, and beat level to provide a detailed picture of equity around the dispersal of City services. 
  2. Improve relations between the community and police by incorporating community and stakeholder engagement at all stages of our public safety projects. This ensures our work addresses issues most directly impacted by the quality of those relations and therefore the effectiveness of Chicago’s public safety operations.
  3. Improve employment opportunities for minorities in Chicago by focusing on recruitment and retention within OIG and other departments. 

Read an overview of the program and OIG’s and other departments’ REAPs here. 

Read OIG’s full REAP here.