Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations

Brookline Vaccine ACT Project



Are you now free to hang out, go to parties and never wear masks or social distance again, even if you still haven’t gotten your Covid-19 vaccine shots? The fifth video (55sec) of the Brookline Vaccine ACT Project is here to help support you and answer some of your questions with information from local health experts, the participation of public safety officials, and community members of Brookline. 

The Brookline Vaccine ACT Project is a collaboration and partnership between the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations (ODICR) and the Brookline Interactive Group (BIG). In the Spring of 2021, the project went to the streets of Brookline to engage directly with residents, with the goal of helping to diminish some of the fears, anxieties, and doubts about the COVID-19 vaccines. It aims to directly address residents’ concerns by providing advice from local community health experts. We are also giving community members the space to participate in the project by providing their own testimonials.

For more information on COVID-19 and its vaccines, please go to https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine for Massachusetts, or https://brooklinecovid19.com/ for Brookline. You can also send us your questions at vaccine@brooklinema.gov and call the Brookline Vaccine Call Center at (617) 879-5636.

If you want to learn more about the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations and/or you are interested in getting involved with community planning and development, collaborating with us on local community organizing, or local projects, programming and events, please contact Carolina San Miguel, the Community Engagement Strategist for the Town of Brookline, at csanmiguel@brooklinema.gov or at (617) 730-2640. You can also follow us on Facebook, and on Twitter.



Tech Buddies Pilot Program

Image description:

Flyer shows two images of seniors using a cell phone and a tablet. The flyer states:  

Have you been isolated during the pandemic with limited access to technology or the internet? Are you relying on a small phone and a limited cellular plan?

The Town of Brookline is offering a FREE tablet and internet service to qualifying elders or adults living alone.

For questions about participation in the Tech Buddies Pilot Program, call or email Sarah Kaplan, Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations skaplan@brooklinema.gov, 617-730-2329


Tech Buddies Flyer

Anti-Asian Racism Resources (PDF with clickable links)

Anti-Asian Racism Resources 3_26_21


For Brookline's most updated COVID-19 information, news, and resources, please visit https://brooklinecovid19.com/

Best Practices for Inclusion in Brookline Commissions, Committees, and Boards

Civic engagement and increased public participation in Town wide decisions is important to an inclusive and sustainable community. It is important to provide meaningful and accessible opportunities to increase public participation within the Town. In addition to communicating meetings more effectively and making meeting locations more accessible and inclusive, it is imperative to empower the diverse and underrepresented residents of the community to participate civically in Brookline.

Based on findings from Civic Engagement Barrier surveys, personal narratives, and collaborative work done by InclusiveBrookline, recommendations from the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations to further cultivate a community of civically engaged people and inclusive decision making groups are provided in the document linked above. 


Call to Action: Civic Engagement 

Call to Action_ Civic Engagement


Commissions and Elected Officials Demographic Survey

The Office aims to support a welcoming environment by encouraging cooperation, tolerance and respect among and by all persons who come contact with the Town of Brookline and by advancing, promoting and advocating for the human and civil rights through education, outreach and advocacy. The mission of the Office and the goal of the Town shall be to strive for a community characterized by the values of inclusion.

2020 Commissions and Elected Official Demographic Survey Report

Civic Engagement Survey 

The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations would like to learn what you may face as barriers to being involved in public meetings and what some solutions may be to allow you to participate if you would like to.

Take this survey online.

Hard copies of the Civic Engagement Survey can be found in Town Hall, the Health Department and Brookline Village Library.

If you have any questions about the survey or would like to access it via email, please contact Caitlin Starr by email or at 617-730-2345. 

Mission

The Office provides professional and administrative support to the following Town Commissions:

Useful links:

The Director serves as the Chief Diversity Officer. The Office provides assistance in applying for health insurance and other entitlement programs and advocates for those who may face discrimination, stereotyping and social injustice.


Reporting Discrimination

  1. Complaint Screening Committee (PDF)
  2. Complaint Process Against Town or School Departments (PDF)
  3. Procedure for Other Complaints (PDF)
  4. Brookline Discrimination Report Form


Government Alliance on Race and Equity

GARE Racial Equity Action Plans (PDF)

GARE Racial Equity Toolkit (PDF)

Racial Equality Alliance

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Town of Brookline recognizes and values diversity as a vital characteristic of the town. All qualified individuals will receive consideration for employment and advancement without regard to race, color, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, age, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, military or veteran status, genetic information, marital status, receipt of public benefits (including housing subsidies), family status (e.g. because one has or doesn’t have children), or other protected classes as defined by the Town, State and Federal law. The Town of Brookline supports and complies with the MA CORI reform law.