Jackson resident takes newly-created job aiming to increase diversity in MDC

Christopher Kennedy of Jackson is embracing his role in Jefferson City, Missouri, as assistant to the director for inclusion and diversity for the Department of Conservation, a newly created position.

Christopher KennedyMissouri Department of Conservation

Kennedy, 47, now reports to the state capital after 25 years working in the MDC office in Cape Girardeau, most recently as fisheries regional supervisor.

“I always thought I would finish my career in fisheries,” said Kennedy, who is currently making the four-hour commute to MDC headquarters from his Cape Girardeau County residence.

“Perhaps as I move toward the end of my career, I can make more lasting change,” he added.

Kennedy, a native of north St. Louis, said MDC has 1,300 employees, of which less than 2% are people of color.

“I was part of a six-month Leadership Academy that had as its capstone project studying diversity and inclusion in all 16 state agencies,” said Kennedy, adding that in terms of gender and race, Missouri state government “could stand to do better.”

Kennedy was part of an 18-member MDC team from all over Missouri looking to see how the conservation department remains relevant in a time when the culture’s collective attitude toward the outdoors seems to be evolving.

One of the study’s recommendations was to create the job Kennedy now has.

Kennedy said he likes to talk about “underserved communities,” which he said do include people of color, but others too.

“People in urban settings have become more disconnected from fish and wildlife,” said Kennedy, adding the same seems to be true of the handicapped and some women.

Kennedy said as an initial task, he intends to tackle measuring diversity and success within MDC itself with an aggressive goal of reporting out data and recommendations by June.

Once findings are in, a “Director’s Council” will guide the efforts of MDC going forward with an identifiable plan for inclusion and diversity developed within three to five years.

Kennedy said MDC aims to improve getting more minorities into “base level” positions with an eye toward creating a path toward leadership roles within the department.

Women, he said, are better represented in base-level MDC jobs, but women reaching the department’s management level have been less successful.

“Missouri has always been a diverse state, but we have issues with inclusion and integration,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy credits his grandmother for getting him interested in conservation.

“She took me bluegill fishing with cane poles using crickets and night crawlers,” Kennedy recalled, “(and) I fell in love with the water, contemplating what lies beneath the surface.”