TVF&R is committed to developing and enhancing a diverse workforce that honors and respects our individual and group differences and reflects the community we serve. To this end our outreach efforts focus on increasing organizational diversity to better reflect the diversity of our community, including racial, ethnic, cultural, language, gender, socio-economic and sexual orientation backgrounds.

We recognize that our ability to effectively serve the diverse population of our service area is directly impacted by our organizational diversity. We also appreciate that organizational diversity has a significant positive impact on the decision making and overall productivity within TVF&R.

Developing and enhancing a diverse workforce is one of the District’s Strategic Goals that define the direction of TVF&R. We understand that we can maintain the very high standards by which we qualify candidates while removing barriers that impact interest in positions among various groups.

In its 2006 paper, “Achieving and Retaining a Diverse Fire Service Workforce,” the International Association of Fire Fighters voiced its strong support for diversity initiatives in the Fire Service, and made the following observation:

Diversity in the workforce will not occur simply because your department is located in a diverse metropolitan area or because your department follows the law regarding non-discrimination. In order to achieve diversity, you must have a strong commitment that includes an active recruiting strategy and you must take effective actions.

TVF&R has implemented a number of programs that support our diversity outreach activities, most of which are coordinated by the District’s Outreach Committee.

TVF&R has a 2^nd language incentive program that rewards individual employees who develop and maintain 2^nd language skills that are critical to our effectiveness with non-English speaking citizens.

Do you have questions about diversity at TVF&R? Contact our Outreach Committee Chairperson.