Recruiting & Retaining Diversity in The Fire Service™: Ten 'Free' Regional
Pilot Sessions in 2010

Each of the ten, free regional pilot training sessions of Recruiting & Retaining Diversity in The Fire Service present an overview of the strategies, tactics and practical aids that departments can use to more effectively recruit and retain a qualified, diverse, inclusive and safe workforce that respects, represents and reflects the communities they serve. Recruiting & Retaining Diversity in The Fire Service is open to metro and mid-sized departments. Each regional session is limited to 12 department teams. A participating department team is comprised of four members: the fire chief, a local union leader, a recruitment officer, and an HR person. Working as department teams, the sessions' intended outcomes will enable participants to:

• Advocate the bottom line benefits of having a diverse and inclusive department.
• Strengthen labor/management's cooperation in proactively supporting diversity.
• Manage expectations about the impact of change.
• Assess what their departments need to do more of, less of, stop, or start to promote inclusion and ensure retention.
• Implement targeted recruitment campaigns that maximize limited resources and incorporate best practices from the fire service, business and military.

West Metro Fire-Rescue District hosted the first pilot on February 4, 2010 at West Metro Fire-Rescue District's Training Center in Lakewood, Colorado. Tempe Fire Department, Dallas Fire Department, Salem Fire Department, Richmond Fire Department, New Briton Fire Department and Los Angeles Fire Department will be hosts for future pilots.

We are currently looking for three other metro or mid-size departments that would like to host a pilot session. Hosting departments can bring two additional participants for their team.

Host facility requirements:

• A room that comfortably accommodates 100 people with round tables and chairs that can be moved around.
• High speed Internet connection, LCD projection system, large screen, lavalier microphones.
• Provide coffee, tea and water; help arrange for lunch.