Philadelphia just wrapped up its Integrity Week 2024, rebooted after a five-year break and designed to increase knowledge around ethical governance. A collaboration between the Chief Integrity Office, Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and the Board of Ethics (BOE), the event series aimed to educate and connect with community members on matters of transparency and accountability in government.
During this recently-concluded series, attendees were offered panel discussions, meet-and-greets, and workshops, all intended to demystify and to impart practical know-how for ethical decision-making in complex scenarios. According to a recent update from the city, the event scored highly, with 90% of survey respondents rating their experience between 4.0 and 5.0 on a 5.0 spectrum.
The week's focus on “understanding Integrity” seems to have struck a chord, as 94% of the survey's participants reported they learned something new about the Chief Integrity Office or partner offices during the week. The event's success is also partly thanks to the rich experiences shared by figures like Tiffany Thurman, Chief of Staff to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Inspector General Alexander DeSantis, and Andrew Richman, Chair of the Compliance & Legislation Group in the Law Department, who provided keynote reflections that were "both insightful and motivating." These leaders, along with other city staff played a critical role in facilitating discussions and training attendees for better ethical practices, including navigating holiday gift-giving with integrity, as reported by the city's official website.
With innovation playing a key role in future programming, several ideas sprung from attendee feedback. Proposals included a designated day for departments to meet their Integrity Officer, raising awareness through interactive activities, and “Integrity Bingo” with prizes, along with the need for additional trainings and refresher courses. One significant highlight from the week was the "Integrity Officer of the Year" award, celebrating outstanding dedication to ethical governance.
Looking forward, the city views Integrity Week as a stepping stone toward a more ethical and transparent government—an ongoing process reliant on the cultivation of trust and understanding. As outlined in the reflection on the success of Integrity Week, "Integrity is the foundation of trust and transparency—trust in our government, processes, and each other. Integrity Week reminded us that pursuing an ethical government is an ongoing journey," as mentioned on the city's website. This sentiment echoes the event's commitment to keep innovating and reinforcing the pillars of integrity and accountability. The Chief Integrity Office has expressed gratitude for the active participation and feedback during the week, bolstering momentum for this civic drive toward a more ethical future.
