Lenice C. Emanuel resigns as St. Pete Chief Equity Officer one month into role

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Lenice C. Emanuel has resigned as chief equity officer for the city of St. Petersburg just one month into her role.

A spokesperson for the mayor’s office told Florida’s Voice that Emanuel resigned from her role on Oct. 25.

The resignation letter sent by Emanuel, which was obtained by Florida’s Voice, provided no explanation for her resignation.

“I am writing to resign, effective immediately. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as the City’s inaugural Chief Equity Officer. Wising you and your team the very best in your future endeavors,” Emanuel said.

In September, Mayor Kenneth T. Welch named Emanuel as chief equity officer. Emanuel started her role on Oct. 2.

The chief equity officer role was created in response to the “Structural Racism Study” conducted by the city in 2021 and to support Mayor Welch’s focus on “inclusive progress.”

Alizza Punzalan-Randle, managing director for Communications and Community Engagement, told Florida’s Voice they have begun the process to fill the position “immediately.”

“We wish her success in her future endeavors,” Punzalan-Randle said.

A press release said Emanuel was responsible for “ensuring that equity and inclusion are fully integrated into City government policies, procedures, and practices, in collaboration with community stakeholders.”

Emanuel previously served as the Executive Director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice, a statewide agency focused on “racial justice and reconciliation across the state of Alabama.”

Florida’s Voice reached out to Lenice Emanuel for additional comment and will update this article if a response is received.