Linda Rawley Thompson – A Champion of Equity and Diversity for New Hanover County, N.C. – GDN Exclusive

Mrs. Linda Rawley Thompson has been the chief diversity and equity officer for New Hanover County since August and she’s enjoying every minute of it.

“My job is to ensure that the rights of individuals throughout our community and within our agency are protected, and to ensure that we utilize inclusion, equity and diversity as much as possible in our day-to-day work as a government.” Thompson, a woman of faith, told GDN recently. “That means making sure that our employees are trained in the area of diversity and equity, hiring and service distribution, the way we operate on a daily basis, and the way we engage our community is as diverse and equitable as possible.”

This is a relatively new office to New Hanover County government.  Thompson comes to it out of law enforcement, after spending 25 years with the Wilmington Police Department in public information and community relations, then becoming its diversity and equity coordinator. As a result, she’s been able to provide implicit bias training for sworn officers with the NHC sheriff’s office.

So, what kind of difference is her diversity work making in the community?

“I think I’m making a difference in terms of our having the conversation,” Thompson tells GDN. “We’ve only been here for six months, but I think that we are very noticeable in the community, and this office now gives residents a place to come if they feel as if something hasn’t been done fairly.”

Thompson has two other staffers in her office, and the office will get an annual assessment from the county commissioners.

Of all the areas, Thompson feels should be prioritized by her office, poverty is at the top of the list.  Making sure that county government is responsive to the needs of the poor, “We saw we had a huge issue with poverty, especially in the African-American community, and communities of color in New Hanover County,” she said.

Thompson is a native of Goldsboro in Wayne County. Graduated high school there and attended UNC-Wilmington in 1982, took courses focusing on communications and broadcasting. She began working at WWAY-TV3 as a reporter, got married and stayed in Wilmington and started a family.

But soon reality came knocking on her door.

“Television journalists don’t make much,” Thompson said. “So, when I realized that the managers at Hardees were making more than I did, I knew it was time for a career change.”

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. It was the 1990s. Police relations with the community had hit the rocks and part of her beat was covering police-relations.  The City Council knew it had to hire someone to act as a liaison between the police and the community, so Thompson got the job.

Now, over twenty-five years later and married again with four adult children, Thompson is onward on another career path.

“I think when you do this kind of work, and you really love it, it’s no longer a job, but a career,” she says. “I consider myself to be a very blessed individual to have been able to move into this kind of position. There is such a thirst in this community to learn more about its roots.”

Thompson was also one of the community leaders that helped to lead the recent “Save Our Wilmington Journal” Facebook Telethon Campaign, which raised a grand total of $95,000 to start renovations on the historic building on Seventh Street.

Of that she is immensely proud of her part and the total community effort.

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