Two new reports and the critical questions about equity, opportunity and inclusion facing the city

Tasked with overseeing Title VI compliance, the Metro Human Relations Commission works to ensure that the city’s 10,000 employees can do their jobs free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Since 2015, the commission has released IncluCivics, a recurring report that looks at the hiring trends, retention rates, and progress toward building a more inclusive environment across departments.

The 2026 edition was released today, and in this episode, we take a closer look at what the data reveals. Where is the city making progress, and where do disparities remain? More importantly, how can leaders and communities use this information to drive meaningful change?

Later on, we also preview the upcoming Community Needs Evaluation from Metro Social Services. Released yearly for the last seventeen years, this year’s report,  “Affordability Issues for African Americans in Nashville: Enduring Legacies. Emerging Issues,” focuses on continued affordability challenges facing African Americans in Nashville.

Together, these reports raise critical questions about equity, opportunity, and the future of our city.

This episode was produced by Mary Mancini.

Guests:

• Dr. Jihan Mohammed, research analyst, Metro Human Relations Commission
• Rev. Davie Tucker, executive director, Metro Human Relations Commission
• Harriet Wallace, strategic communications manager, Metro Social Services

Further listening:

• Rewind with Toward a more diverse and inclusive Metro workforce, our episode about the 2023 IncluCivics report