As the City of Champaign, Illinois’ first-ever equity and engagement director, as well as chief equity officer, Rachel Joy oversees programs that boost community, engage citizens, and promote equity, safety, and justice. She’s served the city for nearly a decade. Before becoming director, she was community relations manager and compliance officer in the City Manager’s Office.
We talked to her about what it means to be a “welcoming community,” how she used her Strategic CaseMaking™ skills to hit a home run in a local TV news interview, and the joy of “hooking” an audience.
What do you love about Champaign?
I love that we are centrally located in Illinois and the size of our city (around 90,000). We have lots of “big city” amenities while maintaining the uniqueness of a smaller community. Also, our location gives us easy access to major cities for day trips. And we have so many great places to eat.
What’s your aspiration for your area?
My hope is that Champaign will effortlessly own the phrase “Welcoming Community.” “Welcoming” means being a space where we all belong and, more importantly, where we are all encouraged to embrace who we are. I want Champaign to be a place where everything we do is a reminder of how critical our diversity is to our existence. Where assimilation isn’t an expectation but instead we lift up each unique person and their experiences to support them as they reach their dreams. When we are truly welcoming, we build, sustain and become our safest, healthiest, economically thriving, and hopeful community.
What are some of the dominant narratives and other obstacles you’re navigating as you work toward bigger change?
We have several dominant narratives, such as “We can never address our housing crisis and lack of affordable housing,” “There are no solutions to address rising homelessness,” “Gun violence will never end,” “Mental health supports don’t exist,” and “Equity isn’t real.” These are constant narratives we are working through in our community. These narratives energize our work because we must challenge them by creating solutions through our ongoing Strategic CaseMaking™.
How are you making the case for your vision of an equitable city?
Currently, I’m developing a citywide equity plan. It is a huge undertaking because it’s such a broad topic. What does a citywide plan really mean?
What’s exciting is this process becomes a real opportunity to focus on what an equitable city looks like from the vantage of each person. We’re gathering information about what matters most to various communities within the city. What are areas we haven’t thought about? What are we missing? Through this process, my vision for creating an equitable city is having everyone feel a part of creating this citywide plan. That’s the only way it truly works.
This process will be a journey, and I am determined to be on the rainbow path. Forging ahead believing and choosing to make it happen. We will be working through organizing with stakeholders and elevating voices by engaging with a wide range of people.
Would you share your best Strategic CaseMaking™ moment with us?
I had an interview with a local news station in between coaching sessions with TheCaseMade. I decided to try using some of the skills I had learned during this interview.
Media is difficult because they sometimes want to focus on the parts of the city’s story that are less aspirational and focus on the dominant narratives. So, I was proud that during the interview I was able to use my pivoting. I went for it!
I did such a good job that part of the interview was used as the lead soundbite for the story. This is one of my greatest Strategic CaseMaking™ moments.
What’s your favorite Strategic CaseMaking™ tool or skill?
I would say creating the “hook”—a combination of tapping into people’s aspirations, building a sense of urgency, and telling people what they lose if they don’t act. I think many of the principles of Strategic CaseMaking™ are connected to developing your hook. How are we convincing people to lean forward, where they see themselves as a part of this story and it connects with their aspirations? Answering the “what’s in it for me” question.
It really is a way to cheer on your audience, and honestly it really feels good when you know “We got them hooked!” It’s a win for everyone.
How has Strategic CaseMaking™ changed your approach to leadership?
Before learning CaseMaking, it was easy for me to fall into the dominant narratives. The “fight” of it all. Especially when it came to equity. Now, I realize I am still in the “fight,” but my approach utilizes skills that are strategic and allow me to be a better problem solver, more optimistic, and a better support for the team I manage. It feels good, and I know my example makes a difference in how those I lead also lead others.
What are you working on next?
I am working with the police chief, the fire chief, and the director of our 911 center to develop and create a model for responding to behavioral health calls. We know that first responders have seen an increase in calls that are not related to crime or fire directly and require mental health and other crisis and trauma supports. Our Equity and Engagement Office is leading this effort, and we are excited to collaborate with our first responders to develop equitable solutions and a model that serves our entire community around mental health.