The City of Shaker Heights has hired Jonathan Ballom as a diversity coordinator, brought on to assist with managing a community-wide Listening Project related to policing.
“We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to the team,” said Colleen Jackson, the City’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “He will become a familiar face to residents as he promotes and attends Listening Project events over the summer and into early fall.”
A Bluffton University graduate, Ballom began his career as a social services case worker, honing his skills in community engagement and project management. At Shaker, he will be responsible for scheduling, coordination, marketing, and logistical planning of community engagement events for the Listening Project. He will manage and track project progress and outcomes.
The City’s Listening Project is one of the components of the Framework for Maintaining a Safe and Just Shaker Heights adopted by City Council in August 2023. It will involve educating the public on current police policies and practices, including the City’s Mental Health Response Program, and the Shaker Heights Police Department’s public records policies and procedures. The primary purpose of the Listening Project, though, is to provide an opportunity for the public to share feedback on policing in Shaker generally.
The Boston-based consulting firm Strategy Matters will design and facilitate the Listening Project, hosting events intended to encourage community-wide discussion on policing policies and practices, and including discussion about any real or perceived bias in policing in Shaker. Ballom will assist Strategy Matters in these efforts.