64 FALL 2021 | WWW.SHAKER.LIFE
What does your position entail, and what are your goals?
Because it’s new, my position is being defined as I’m doing it. The title is Chief
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. When you put the word Officer on the
end of a title, there is an element of enforcement involved. And I think that
speaks to how the City sees the issues of DEI – they want our mission, and our
values, enforced. It’s that important. My job is to help the City, staff, residents,
and our business community understand our values and our commitment to
diversity, equity, and inclusion.
I think the unique challenge in my job is to take into consideration, with
respect, appreciation, and admiration, what has already been done. When you
think about the history of the City, you have to look at it in totality; we love to
talk about all the good we’ve done, but we also have to talk about the not-sogreat
parts of Shaker’s history so that we can move forward. I’m here to support
Mayor Weiss and Chief Administrative Officer Jeri Chaikin, and to help Shaker
become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive in all that we do – in our service
delivery, in every way that the City operates – to make it better, for everyone.
You just touched on Shaker’s long history of being proactive on diversity issues.
How will that inform your work going forward?
It will more than inform it, it gives me a leg to stand on! One of the things that
attracted me to this position was what I already knew about Shaker as a diverse
community committed to academic excellence. That is the reputation it has in
the Greater Cleveland area. A community that has been proactive regarding
issues of diversity is one that is usually eager to take it to the next level. One of
my goals is to help move Shaker from diverse to inclusive. It is easier to do that
when you have staff and community members who value the principles of DEI
personally and want that reflected throughout the City.
Colleen came to the City from
The Cleveland Play House, where
she held two positions: she helped
develop the CARE (Compassionate
Arts Remaking Education) Program,
which used theater to teach social
and emotional learning, and increase
English Language Arts scores. She
was also the Director of Community
Partnerships and Programming,
during which time she helped to lead
the DEI charge.
A Cleveland native, Colleen
attended middle school in Cleveland
Heights, and graduated from Euclid
High School. She holds a BFA and
an MFA in Acting from Kent State.
A professional union actor/singer,
Jackson landed roles in a number
of theatrical productions during her
10-plus years in New York, including
a national tour of “Kiss Me Kate,” a
regional premiere of “Hairspray,” and
off-Broadway work with New York
Musical Theater Festival. Locally, she’s
performed in productions at Karamu
House, Porthouse Theater, Dobama
Theatre, Cain Park, and Beck Center.
In addition, she is a certified trauma
specialist and has a Certificate in
Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell
University.
In her spare time Colleen loves
bowling and reading, and she is an
avid roller coaster enthusiast. She’s
also very involved in her church’s
outreach program and teaches under
Baldwin Wallace Conservatory’s
musical theater program, where
she also strives to increase DEI
competencies. Colleen lives in
Cleveland Heights with her husband
and their dog Angel, a Great Dane.
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