Concord DEI commission readies repeat survey, aims for broad outreach and QR-code distribution

The Concord DEI Commission moved forward on plans for a repeat community survey, agreeing to reuse last cycle's questionnaire with minor edits and to pursue broad outreach through schools, faith communities, town meeting materials and a QR code in mailed briefing materials.

Chair Andrea Posabella said the commission would present a proposed questionnaire for approval at the March meeting and aim to distribute the survey for approximately two months. Members referenced the previous survey's reach: one commissioner reported roughly 650 total responses previously, with about 570 respondents who lived in Concord, about 180 who worked in Concord, and a small overlap between categories.

Why it matters: The commission and members said the survey is the primary data source for the DEI action plan and strategic priorities; reusing the prior instrument will allow trend comparisons over time, while one unclear question will be revised to improve analysis.

Outreach and logistics: Commissioners discussed a multi-channel approach — online forms, hard copies, posters, tabletops, mail postcards (4,000 households last cycle) and town-meeting briefing inserts. They asked town staff to explore whether a QR code linking to the DEI web page and survey can be added to the town meeting briefing book (deadline cited as March 30 for briefing materials). Members volunteered to create updated flyer/tabletop designs and to coordinate with school newsletters and community partners for distribution.

Next steps: Commissioners agreed to circulate a draft questionnaire ahead of the next meeting for review and vote, finalize outreach materials and consider a short subcommittee meeting if timing requires an earlier approval before the March meeting.