SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The City of Syracuse has a new division focused on pursuing social impact in city government procurement.
The new division of equity compliance and social impact (DECSI) is part of the Office of Management and Budget, the office of Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh announced.
The division will better represent the city’s commitment to promoting diversity, fairness, and inclusivity by harnessing its purchasing power for economic, social, and strategic outcomes, according to the mayor.
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Walsh has named Rebecca Lumpkin as the assistant director of equity compliance of DECSI. She will be critical to the coordination and partnership of planning city procurement alongside the budget and purchase divisions.
Lumpkin is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and earned her bachelor’s degree in public health from Syracuse University.
DECSI (pronounced DEH-See), was formerly known as the Office of Contract Compliance and Minority Affairs. It was part of the department of Neighborhood and Business Development.
The Syracuse Common Council approved the move to the Office of Management and Budget as well as a change in the office’s name in the city charter earlier this year, Walsh’s office said.
“The City of Syracuse is putting our money where our mouth is,” Walsh said in a news release. “The renaming and reorganization of the Division of Equity Compliance and Social Impact reflects our commitment to using our purchasing power to advance our vision to embrace diversity and create opportunity for all.”
DECSI will lead the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across city government. One targeted initiative is advancing the city’s strategic plan to increase opportunities to engage local and diverse businesses to “better understand how to serve them.”
The division will continue creating engagements similar to its MWBE outreach event in September and Future Women in STEM event in October. The division is also “integral” to helping create wealth among disadvantaged communities in its ability to connect local vendors and small businesses to opportunities to earn government contracts, Walsh’s office said.
