The Speaker

Michael Gaskins is the Diversity Recruitment Officer for the Boston Fire Department. He has a wealth of experience with over 20 years in Recruiting, Career Professional Development, and community outreach. Prior to joining the BFD, Michael worked in a similar capacity with the Boston Police Department. Within the first three years, Michael revamped the strategic initiatives and set the foundation of a community-based resource office and partnered with local non-profit and City agencies. As a result of these efforts, the department saw a marked increase in diversity within the applicant pool and recorded balanced academy classes which significantly increased the number and percentages of people of color and people from underrepresented communities from 2017—2021; the culmination of these efforts came in 2022 with the entrance of the most diverse Academy Class in the history of the department that included over 35 women—another record!

He believes that outreach and community building are true tenants to his approach in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion scope which began early in his career as the Assistant Director of Career Services at the University of Massachusetts Boston where he oversaw operation in employer job fairs, internships, and programming for professional development. There, Michael also worked with the pre-collegiate program and Veterans Upward Bound and continues to volunteer and support local organizations that support career development for young adults and provide career transition and resources for those that served. Michael is a resident of Boston and excited to lead the recruiting initiatives for the Boston Fire Department.

The Workshop

Hiring and Recruitment Challenges in Policing : Thursday, October 05, 2023 03:00P

Across the nation, the challenges police departments face in retaining and recruiting officers are alarming – a staffing crisis exacerbated by retirements and resignations, as well as high-profile killings that have put policing under increased scrutiny and made it a frequent target of protests and calls for budget cuts. This training will focus on the importance of recruitment and meeting the community where they are.