TriMet selects director of diversity and transit equity and multicultural program manager

TriMet has hired for two positions focused on diversity and serving multicultural populations. Johnell Bell has been selected as the agency's director of diversity and transit equity. In a newly created role, Martin Gonzalez, a TriMet employee since 2007, will serve as multicultural program manager. Bell will continue TriMet's regional and national leadership in transit equity, ensuring services and infrastructure are equitably distributed and accessible to diverse cultural, racial and economic communities throughout the agency's service area. Bell will also lead the agency's minority contracting efforts. Bell begins Aug. 1. Bell most recently worked for U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) where he represented Merkley in Multnomah County, focusing on issues of diversity, community and government relations and environmental justice. Gonzalez will continue building TriMet's Limited English Proficiency program and provide leadership on internal and external issues around cultural competency. He will begin in his new position Aug. 1. Gonzalez joined TriMet in 2007 after his work as executive director of the Portland, Ore., SCHOOLS Alliance.