Canton DEI committee receives $13,100 allocation to expand programming

At the May 18 meeting the Canton Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee reported a $13,100 allocation for the coming year, a substantial increase from prior years, and discussed how to use the funds.

"I'm happy to say that we did get $13,100," the chair (S1) said, calling the increase a meaningful boost after years on a shoestring budget. Treasurer Nicola (S5) said the committee had requested a 300% increase but received a 200% increase and noted that neighboring towns typically provide little or no dedicated DEI funding.

Members discussed practical uses for the additional funds — programming, speaker fees, flag-raising materials and outreach — and noted that some spending would need to wait until supplemental allocations or formal approvals. Nicola said the committee could request specific allocations for planned expenses and that partners had previously supplemented events with modest gifts.

The committee agreed to continue prioritizing equitable programming across heritage months and to present more detailed spending proposals at a future meeting.