Inclusivity from within: Maxine Carter leads by example

This article was originally published in Illuminessence e-magazine, May 22 2013.

Change for a more inclusive and welcoming community does not happen overnight. It takes a push from within.

For Maxine Carter, these values were instilled at a young age.

Born in Guyana and raised in Hamilton, Carter wrote letters to city council and local grocers, asking them to take a stand against Nestlé, the multi-national food corporation.

She was only 11 but she urged a boycott of the company’s products, believing that the company was using child labour to assemble its goods.

Unlikely career trajectory: Science to equity

The desire for an inclusive society was part of who she was and it stayed with her as she went to university.

“I probably never saw it as a career. It was a belief system”

said Carter, who completed an undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the University of Toronto.

While pursuing her career in science, Carter continued to take a stance against inequity. Subsequently, Carter switched gears and took up a position in the United Way Hamilton/ Burlington chapter as the Anti-Racism Organizational Development Director.  That position took her beyond the organization; Carter worked with the 65 to 70 United Way-affiliated agencies to develop their anti-racism programs.

“They [United Way] wanted to see the agencies live those [anti-racism] principles,” she said, describing how she collaborated one-on-one with senior management teams to insert values of diversity into their services and programs.

Driving change from the top

To Carter, this top-down approach is the most effective method to ensure positive and lasting organizational change “because they work within the leadership and management first,” she stressed. “I really love that idea that they were walking the talk and they are insisting the agencies do the same.”

So, when the opportunity to work with the municipal government at a similar capacity came along, Carter thought it would be a good change.

Since 2002, Carter has been the City of Hamilton’s Access and Equity Coordinator, where she works to ensure that the city’s programs and services are accessible to all Hamiltonians.  Notably, Carter has established and continues to implement the City of Hamilton’s Equity and Inclusion and Racial Equity policies.

Despite her transition from the not-for-profit to public sector, Carter believes the “recipe” for inclusivity and diversity remains the same.

“You need leadership that believes in it, or believes in the outcome. They have to put resources into it. Human and financial.”

A firm believer in leadership by example, Carter ensures that she too remains engaged and aware of community issues and activities. Aside from facilitating the city’s volunteer advisory committees such as the Committee Against Racism, Immigrant and Refugee Advisory Committee, Aboriginal Advisory Committee and Status of Women,  Carter also extends her support to the Caribbean Women’s Association and Afghan Women’s Association in the city.

Her dedication to community development, diversity and inclusivity earned her the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards under the Community Development and Social Inclusion category. Carter joined 11 other local women as recipients for this series of prestigious awards acknowledging women and their contributions to the city.

Champion of Accessibility

On the accessibility front, Carter was instrumental in developing and advancing the city’s Gore Pedestrianization Project. It is an ongoing project in collaboration with the Downtown BIA, aiming to transform the traffic-heavy Gore Park into a pedestrian-friendly area.

Carter is also responsible for providing oversight in the implementation of the city’s Accessibility Plan. Accessibility features including modified counters, accessible washrooms, automatic door openers and assistive devices are now available in many of the city’s municipal service centres, museums, departments and locations providing services to the public.

Values of social inclusion: Starting from young

While her professional life is no doubt an epitome of her commitment towards social inclusion, Carter tried to instill those values in her children at a young age. She would take her three children to community events.

“I think it’s good exposure. I want them to know what life in the community is really like. I want them to know why it is important to give back.”

Whether as a mother or an established professional, Carter puts service to the community first.

“You need to be able to understand who you’re working for. Because if you’re being funded by people, you need to respect people and respond to people.”