The City of Huntsville’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) has a simple but critical mission: To make life better for everyone.
Huntsville is a diverse city — a distinction that goes beyond different ethnicities. Consider that diversity includes a population with different income levels, different education levels, different backgrounds. Differences can be the language we speak, the clothes we wear, the food we eat and the music we enjoy.
On average, 17 people move to Huntsville each day. Each of those people will bring their own identities and personalities, further contributing to the backdrop that makes Huntsville not only the largest city in Alabama but also the most diverse. It’s a factor in why our growth is outpacing that of our sister cities.
Celebrating our diversity means we should want everyone to live a life of equity. For me, that means opportunity. While Huntsville has long benefited from the jobs provided at Redstone Arsenal, the City in recent years has worked tirelessly to create advanced manufacturing jobs to ensure opportunities for success for everyone. Our efforts were fruitful — Mazda Toyota, Polaris, GE Aviation, Aerojet Rocketdyne and others that provide good-paying jobs regardless of educational background. No longer did you have to be a rocket scientist or a PhD to be part of Huntsville’s success; everyone has that opportunity.
If creating equal opportunities for everyone seems obvious, the same goes for inclusion. Everyone is a part of Huntsville and Huntsville should be a part of everyone. Differences should not divide us. Everyone should have a seat at the table.
This is the thrust of Huntsville’s ODEI effort. It works year-round to bring us together through a variety of programs and events. One of those programs is the twice annual Civic Engagement Academy, which brings together 50 people interested in learning more about City Hall while informing City leaders about the needs of the community.
ODEI organizes a backpack drive with corporate partners to make sure that every student who needs a little help gets that boost to start the school year strong. The office also works with our Hispanic Latino Advisory Council to help us understand their concerns and culture. And the crowds that gather for Jazz in the Park each weekend in September tell us how popular that ODEI event is to people of all backgrounds. ODEI assists our Human Resources Department in training employees on the art of listening, collaboration and soft skills. It also oversees our internship program, providing college students with valuable experience and a behind-the-scenes look at how we operate.
In Huntsville, we all share in each other’s success. It’s why Huntsville is a magnet for people across the country. And diversity, equity and inclusion is a central part of why Huntsville is appealing to so many people.
This is not a new initiative for the City. The Office of Multicultural Affairs launched in 2009 and was rebranded 2021 as ODEI because it better described its common-sense mission. No matter what we name the office; we will continue to provide opportunity for all citizens, from all walks of life. Their success is our success.
Ultimately, though, whether named DEI, Multicultural, or ‘Everyone Succeeds’- why argue about a name? Much more important work remains to be done.
