Diversity and Inclusion

The Most Racially Diverse States

While the white population still is the largest racial group in most states, many places are much less white and many more people identify as multiracial, according to 2020 U.S. Census data.

  • By Jean Dimeo

How Local Governments Can Help Minority-Owned Businesses Gain Access to Public Contracts

Procurement of goods and services by localities totals $2.5 trillion annually, but people of color struggle to gain access to lucrative public contracts, according to the National League of Cities.

  • By Jean Dimeo

Online, Mug Shots Are Forever. Some States Want to Change That.

People are innocent until proven guilty, but the public release of mug shots taken at the time of arrest can become a barrier to housing, employment and personal relationships.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

To Budget for Equity, Cities First Must Define Equity

COMMENTARY | Without a clear and shared definition of equity, city leaders cannot understand the underlying conditions that create existing disparities in their community, let alone make informed budget decisions that foster equity.

  • By Anjali Chainani

States and Localities Should Implement Equity Compliance Measures

COMMENTARY | As Americans increasingly demand equitable action from government officials, the ability to model, measure and map equity in real time paves the way for a new model of governing to address injustices.

  • By Martin O'Malley

In the Rush to Digital, Governments Can’t Leave Behind Cash Payers

COMMENTARY | As local and state governments embrace digital payment services, they must ensure that these services are equitable and accessible to all—including people who are unbanked or underbanked.

  • By Liz Fischer

Building Trust in the Covid-19 Vaccine Among People of Color

COMMENTARY | Government and health care organizations must overcome understandable skepticism toward the vaccine among some minority groups. Following three basic communications practices can help.

  • By Juan Cabrera

Hiring a Chief Equity Officer? Here’s What You Need to Know

COMMENTARY | It’s a position that can come with tough challenges. City and county leaders should focus on three key actions to set their chief equity officers up for success.

  • By Alisha Powell Gillis

Making Community Engagement More Accessible and Inclusive

COMMENTARY | The pandemic quickly shifted most community engagement to virtual arrangements, but not all citizens have ready access to online forums. Public officials can address inequities by finding alternative ways to gather valuable community input.

  • By Shaughnessy Daniels

Inclusion Starts with Better Management—Here's What Employees Say about Making Diversity Work

COMMENTARY | To fully tap into the positive outcomes of diversity, organizations need to focus on inclusion.

  • By Kim Brimhall, The Conversation

California Bill Would Require Corporate Boards to Diversify

The measure would require at least one person from an underrepresented community to sit on the board of publicly held corporations in the state.

  • By Emma Coleman

There Are Nine Finalists—and No Mosquitoes—for Mississippi's New State Flag

The state's flag previously featured the Confederate battle flag, widely considered a racist symbol. It was retired in June after nationwide protests over the death of George Floyd renewed calls to replace it.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram
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Will George Floyd’s Death Actually Change How Cities and States Are Run?

COMMENTARY | Institutionalized racism has been an existential threat to the black community for centuries. In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, it’s up to state and local leaders to usher in badly needed systemwide reform to end racial injustices.

  • By Alisha Powell Gillis

COVID-19 Is Crushing Black Communities. Some States Are Paying Attention.

Black Americans are much more likely than whites to die of COVID-19.

  • By Christine Vestal and Michael Ollove, Stateline

State Legislation to End Hair Discrimination Gets a Mention at the Oscars

The winner of the animated short category mentioned the CROWN Act, a bill that prevents workplace and school discrimination against people with natural black hair.

  • By Emma Coleman

Black Americans Mostly Left Behind by Progress Since Dr. King’s Death

COMMENTARY | Today’s black poverty rate of 21% is almost three times that of whites.

  • By Sharon Austin, The Conversation

Children of Color Already Make Up the Majority of Kids in Many U.S. States

COMMENTARY | Between 2010 and 2018, the number of white children fell by 2.8 million, or 7.1%. In contrast, nonwhite children grew by 6.1%.

  • By Dudley L. Poston, Jr. and Rogelio Sáenz, The Conversation

Some Mayors Are More Likely to Get Threats Than Others

New research shows that mayors who are younger, female, in strong mayor systems, and in larger cities are more likely to face abuse.

  • By Emma Coleman

Municipal Workforces Don’t Always Reflect a City’s Population. Now, More Cities are Naming Chief Diversity Officers

More local governments are taking an interest as citizen demand for representation increases.

  • By Emma Coleman

The Deferred Dream of an Equal Rights Amendment

Newly empowered Democrats are likely to make Virginia the final state needed to ratify the long-dormant ERA.

  • By Russell Berman, The Atlantic

Midwest Cities Among the Worst Places to Live for African Americans

A new report finds that the Midwest has some of the highest racial disparities in the country across factors like education, employment, income, homeownership, and access to healthcare.

  • By Emma Coleman