JACKSON – In honor of Black History Month, the Mississippi Department of Transportation is highlighting programs that encompass the mission of the Civil Rights Division and MDOT employees Linda Harrell and Sedrick Durr.

 

Linda Harrell joined MDOT in 1989 as a clerk typist with the Right of Way Division. She currently serves as the state equal employment opportunity officer. She has spent nearly 25 years with MDOT’s Office of Civil Rights, which also includes a seven-year stint as Title VI Coordinator.

“A wise person once said if you choose a job that you really love then you will never work a day in your life,” said Harrell. “While the mission at MDOT is bigger than any one individual, the privilege comes from being a part of an environment that is genuinely family-oriented. That has been the essence of my experience at MDOT.”

 

Harrell’s time with MDOT stretches nearly 36 years, which includes administrative roles throughout the agency. Between her time with Right of Way and Civil Rights, Harrell also worked in the Legal Division, the Office of Administrative Services and the Office of the Executive Director.

 

Sedrick Durr’s career at MDOT began in February 2001 with the Public Affairs Division where he served as a public relations representative. He currently serves as the disadvantaged business enterprise certification officer with MDOT’s Office of Civil Rights. He previously spent 16 years as a public involvement coordinator with the Environmental Division.

 

“At a time when a person’s style can draw an admirable perception, I would rather focus on the substance of the routine that lies beneath the surface of the public eye,” said Durr. “This has allowed me to appreciate the journey of my career more often than the destination. It has also equipped me with an understanding that due diligence regardless of the obstacles creates consistency and accountability. As a result, my efforts to be dedicated to the substance of public service eventually became the style.”

 

Prior to joining MDOT, Durr served as a media assistant for the Mississippi School for the Deaf from 1997 to 2001. Overall, he has dedicated nearly 28 years to state service.

The mission of the Office of Civil Rights is to ensure equal opportunity in employment by encouraging workforce diversity and eliminating unlawful discrimination in benefits, business opportunities and services.The division is charged with oversight of the agency’s Title VI activities, the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, the On-The-Job Training Program, Internal Equal Employment Opportunity compliance, External Contract Compliance and the Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. It also administers the Mississippi Summer Transportation Institute, the Mentor Protégé Program, and the Small Business Concerns Program.

 

For more information on how MDOT salutes Black History Month, visit GoMDOT.com.