Jzar aims to create a Gastonia where 'all voices can be heard'

Helping Gastonia achieve All-America City status back in 2010 marks a career highlight for Cheri Jzar, who worked in the city's municipal planning department from 2006 to 2012.

"That experience really changed me," said Jzar, who has now returned to the city staff as its diversity coordinator. "Seeing people from all over the community come together for a common goal was very powerful and very instructive."

In her new role of helping employees and city residents address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Jzar is hopeful of seeing the same sort of positive energies come together to build a stronger community.

"What we have here is a tremendous opportunity," she said, speaking of both her new job and of the city's response to diversity issues. "We want to create a safe space where all voices can be heard, where all issues can be addressed, and where we can publicly share ideas, thoughts, and grievances."

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Jzar said she grew up appreciating the coastal city's mild climate, proximity to the ocean, historic neighborhoods, and vibrant downtown.

She also grew up witnessing, however, the difficulty Black residents faced in moving upward economically and the disparity of services between upper class white neighborhoods and working class Black neighborhoods.

As a teenager, Jzar saw the path toward opportunity to work for change.

"I was working as a floating temp in the Savannah City Hall," she remembered. "And for four weeks I got to work for an African-American judge. He opened my eyes to government and to how it works."

Jzar pursued that passion, first earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Georgia Southern University and a master's degree in urban studies from Savannah State University.

Jzar said the master's program had an especially strong impact on her life. "The faculty really wanted us to believe in ourselves, to be an example to others. And they made sure we were exposed to the professional community."

In the years immediately following her graduation, Jzar worked as a planner for both Savannah and Anderson, South Carolina.

Marriage led her to relocate to Charlotte, where she first worked as a coordinating planner for Concord before joining the Gastonia staff in 2006.

In addition to working on the All America City efforts during that time, Jzar also worked on developing a visioning plan called "Gastonia 2025," and as the planner responsible for the city's downtown historic district.

She then returned to Concord for nine years before beginning her new position in Gastonia on Jan. 4.

During her first 90 days on the job, for which she will be paid $92,000 per year, Jzar said she will focus on "learning the organization and understanding the culture of the city staff."

"I want to learn what the staff looks like in terms of ethnicity and gender," she said. "I will also be focusing on service delivery and on our hiring. The goal is to make everything more equitable."

Jzar added that she will be working to build a training schedule for all city departments, not to discuss mandates she wishes to impose but rather to "listen to them. To learn what their ideas and plans are."

Her efforts will not be confined within the walls of City Hall.

"I want to connect with community leaders and with community stakeholders," she said. "This has to be a citywide collaboration. We have to be working together. We'll also be looking to learn from other communities, to see what others have done."

Concluding her vision of what her new position entails, Jzar said, "This is a great opportunity to help a good community become even better. More diverse, more equitable, more inclusive."

Bill Poteat may be reached at 704-869-1855 or bpoteat@gastongazette.com.