With a new survey by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Implementation Committee, local businesses have a chance to share their experiences opening and operating storefronts in Belmont.
Aimed at a better understanding of issues of diversity and access for local businesses, the survey came as one of the recommendations outlined by the Diversity Task Force. Through the survey, store owners can clearly delineate their issues.
“We’re hoping that [the survey] can be a dual purpose,” said Julie Wu, co-chair of the committee and a member of the Belmont Voice editorial advisory group. “[It will] fulfill the Diversity Task Force recommendations, but also help the business community in general, sort of give them a voice.”
In February 2021, the Diversity Task Force was established following a series of racially charged incidents at both the national and local levels. Locally, that included the murder of Henry Tapia, a Black man who was the victim of a road rage incident in January 2021, during which Dean Kapsalis — who is now serving life in prison (with the possibility of parole after 15 years) — reportedly shouted racist slurs at Tapia before striking him with his truck, according to the Associated Press.
Over about a year, that committee of residents and town officials developed a series of recommendations to pass on to the DEI Implementation Committee.
In April, the implementation committee sent out the 15-question survey to a list of businesses they received from the Economic Development Committee database. They hope to discover any challenges facing business owners, especially those for minority-owned businesses.
Questions include, “Do you identify as a minority (including racial/ethnic/religious minorities, disabled, women, Indigenous, or LGBTQIA+)?”; “Does your business have a non-discrimination policy and training for employees regarding interactions with customers and clients?”; “Do you feel that there is equitable resource allocation across business districts in Belmont?”
Creating the survey was a months-long endeavor with multiple committees involved. Wu partnered with the Economic Development Committee to review the questions and test the survey. Committee chair Paul Joy encouraged Wu and the DEIIC to add a question about any challenges owners face in opening their business.
That made sense to Wu, who has heard from many people how difficult it is to open a business in town.
The survey also gauges business owners’ interest in creating a Belmont Business Association — currently, there is only an association for storefronts in Belmont Center.
In 2022, following the creation of their recommendations, the Diversity Task Force enlisted the DEIIC to address issues. The committee had three years to develop a plan. They didn’t have a budget, but they wanted to do more than talk about solutions.
“Three … years is a long time to just make a plan,” Wu said. “So [the survey] was one of the things we thought we could do [that] didn’t require any money.”
Currently, there is no deadline for the survey, but the committee hopes more businesses fill it out in the coming weeks. They will share the data with departments, boards, committees and other town entities.
While the committee and the survey focuses on DEI initiatives, Wu encourages all businesses in town to fill it out.
“I think that it’s going to be helpful no matter who you are,” she said. “Fill this thing out.”
