{"id":62829,"date":"2025-03-19T15:48:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T19:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/?p=62829"},"modified":"2025-03-19T15:51:03","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T19:51:03","slug":"genesee-county-county-manager-rsvp-wording-on-dei-changed-but-program-remains-the-same","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/03\/19\/genesee-county-county-manager-rsvp-wording-on-dei-changed-but-program-remains-the-same\/","title":{"rendered":"GENESEE COUNTY\/County manager: RSVP wording on DEI changed but program remains the same"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>By Mike Pettinella<br>For Video News Service<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now\u2019s not the time to pick a fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s how Genesee County Manager Matt Landers is handling a situation involving President Trump\u2019s Executive Order on diversity, equity and inclusion, and the AmeriCorps Senior RSVP Program which is run through the county\u2019s Office for the Aging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this week, Landers reported that the federal government directed the county to change the wording in the program\u2019s description to fall in line with Trump\u2019s stand on DEI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to an email from County Compliance Officer Pamela LaGrou, \u201cSpecific and targeted language pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion was changed to broader descriptive phrases or simply removed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Per the email, wording was changed to \u201c\u2026 we recruit members with a wide range of skills and experiences including geography (urban\/rural), economic (upper\/lower income) and work experience (factory worker\/teacher, secretary),\u201d rather than:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c\u2026 we recruit members to ensure diversity of geography (urban\/rural), economic (upper\/lower income) and work experience (factory worker\/teacher), secretary, etc., while also seeking to represent diversity in race, ethnicity, sex and veteran status.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reference to specific groups was removed: \u201cRSVP has connected with the Pride Center of Buffalo, an LGTBQ advocacy center.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Also, the following was removed: \u201cGenesee RSVP is inclusive of older adults, or all races, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientations, political and religious affiliations and we ensure the same of our stations via conversations at the time the MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is signed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LaGrou wrote that all language changes were made to ensure compliance with the President\u2019s Executive Order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Landers said he agreed to make the changes but emphasized that \u201cit doesn\u2019t change how we\u2019re going to run the program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe&#8217;re going to run it still the same way we&#8217;ve been running it for 40 years,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if we make the change and it still keeps the funding coming, then I&#8217;m not going to jeopardize the program. So, we simply made the changes to the satisfaction of the feds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Noting his responsibility to the citizens and taxpayers of Genesee County, Landers said this wasn\u2019t the time or place \u201cto take a stand like Erie County is \u2013 a principle stand &#8212; and potentially jeopardize the funding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Continuing, Landers said, \u201cI don&#8217;t want to say it&#8217;s a nothing burger because it is interesting in the sense that here&#8217;s an example where the federal base is saying make this change or your funding will be jeopardized. So, it did the same thing to Erie County, but Erie County is like, \u2018No, we&#8217;re not changing the wording.\u2019 Well, I&#8217;m not going to win a battle and lose the war. I want to ensure that the funding continues.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Landers noted that the county receives around $6 million to $7 million in federal funding for various programs and services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The RSVP program reportedly gets $50,000 annual in federal funding. It\u2019s three-year funding cycle ends on March 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Per the Genesee County website,&nbsp;<em>\u201cThe program provides county residents 55 years of age and older with information on volunteer opportunities in the county, and matches them with agencies based on their skills, hobbies, interest, and available time. Assignments are numerous and diverse. Volunteering has been proven to be an excellent way to improve general health, both mental and physical. Some benefits to the volunteer include travel reimbursement, supplemental insurance coverage, and annual recognition.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service Now\u2019s not the time to pick a fight. That\u2019s how Genesee County Manager Matt Landers is handling a situation involving President Trump\u2019s Executive Order on diversity, equity and inclusion, and the AmeriCorps Senior RSVP Program which is run through the county\u2019s Office for the \u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"continue-reading-button\"> <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/03\/19\/genesee-county-county-manager-rsvp-wording-on-dei-changed-but-program-remains-the-same\/\">Continue reading<i class=\"crycon-right-dir\"><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[23],"tags":[4995],"class_list":["post-62829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-genesee-county","tag-dei-wording-change"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8eTP4-gln","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":18884,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/08\/15\/genesee-county-landers-sworn-in-as-county-manager\/","url_meta":{"origin":62829,"position":0},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Landers sworn in as County Manager","author":"aka","date":"August 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Assistant County Manager Matthew Landers was sworn in as County Manager on Saturday morning, replacing long time County Manager Jay Gsell who served the county for 27 years. Gsell officially retired on Friday after his last day on the job. The Legislature appointed Matthew Landers to the position of County\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Genesee County&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/still-matt-landers-sworn-in.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/still-matt-landers-sworn-in.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/still-matt-landers-sworn-in.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/still-matt-landers-sworn-in.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/still-matt-landers-sworn-in.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14364,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/02\/29\/genesee-county-county-manager-jay-gsell-announces-retirement-landers-to-replace-him\/","url_meta":{"origin":62829,"position":1},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/County Manager Jay Gsell announces retirement, Landers to replace him","author":"aka","date":"February 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release At the February 26th Legislature meeting, County Manager Jay Gsell announced his plan to retire as of August 14, 2020. He will have twenty-seven years as county manager and a total of forty-five years working in government. Upon earning his bachelor\u2019s degree from the College of William and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Genesee County&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jay-gsell.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jay-gsell.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jay-gsell.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jay-gsell.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Jay-gsell.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":81590,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/genesee-county-genesee-community-colleges-jodi-scondras-selected-as-suny-deisj-fellow-for-2026-2027\/","url_meta":{"origin":62829,"position":2},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Genesee Community College&#8217;s Jodi Scondras selected as SUNY DEISJ Fellow for 2026-2027","author":"aka","date":"September 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Press release\/provided photo Genesee Community College Director of Human Service Careers & Education Jodi Scondras has been selected to serve as a 2026-2027 SUNY Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DEISJ) Fellow. Scondras was selected following an extensive, multi-round review process that considered nearly 200 applications from across the State\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Batavia&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/JodiScondras2.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":81623,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2026\/09\/22\/genesee-county-spectrum-and-county-partner-to-expand-broadband-internet-service-across-the-county\/","url_meta":{"origin":62829,"position":3},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Spectrum and County partner to expand broadband internet service across the county","author":"aka","date":"September 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"https:\/\/youtu.be\/K_l8gPxhyrs Video of this afternoon's press conference Spectrum and Genesee County held a joint press conference at the Interpretive Nature Center at the Genesee County Park and Forest in East Bethany on Tuesday afternoon, to announce that all of Genesee County has access to high-speed internet. The Genesee County Park\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Genesee County&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/snapshot_002-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/snapshot_002-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/snapshot_002-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/snapshot_002-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/snapshot_002-6.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18461,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2020\/07\/23\/genesee-county-assistant-county-manager-appointed-county-manager-during-legislature-meeting-on-wednesday-night-gsell-to-retire-next-month\/","url_meta":{"origin":62829,"position":4},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/Assistant County Manager appointed County Manager during Legislature meeting on Wednesday night, Gsell to retire next month","author":"aka","date":"July 23, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"After 26 years and 364 days as County Manager, Jay Gsell is retiring. Gsell has led Genesee County through so many changes since taking office in 1993. He will walk out the doors of the old county court house at Rt. 5 and 63 on August 14th. https:\/\/youtu.be\/Mq5kRdayD5g After being\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Genesee County&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Genesee County","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/genesee-county\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Matt-Jay.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Matt-Jay.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Matt-Jay.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Matt-Jay.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Matt-Jay.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62625,"url":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/2025\/03\/12\/genesee-county-e911-dispatchers-temporarily-working-out-of-old-jail-genesee-county-manager-talks-about-time-and-space\/","url_meta":{"origin":62829,"position":5},"title":"GENESEE COUNTY\/E911 dispatchers temporarily working out of old jail; Genesee County manager talks about \u2018time and space\u2019","author":"aka","date":"March 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Mike PettinellaFor Video News Service Time and space. Genesee County Manager Matt Landers didn\u2019t hold back when talking about the quandary the municipality is in when it comes to finding enough room for his employees to work most efficiently and effectively. In other words, Landers needs a bit more\u00a0time\u00a0to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Batavia&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Batavia","link":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/category\/gennesse-county\/batavia\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dispatcher-general-4.2020.webp?fit=768%2C422&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dispatcher-general-4.2020.webp?fit=768%2C422&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dispatcher-general-4.2020.webp?fit=768%2C422&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/dispatcher-general-4.2020.webp?fit=768%2C422&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/videonewsservice.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo-Gen-Co.png?fit=120%2C120&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62829","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62829"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62829\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62831,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62829\/revisions\/62831"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/videonewsservice.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}