Community leaders in Anchorage have mobilized after President Donald Trump’s executive order ending federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The Alaska Black Caucus hosted a Sunday virtual discussion, inviting Alaskans to address the controversy over the Anchorage DEI program.
The conversation focused on strategies for preserving equitable and inclusive spaces despite the federal government removing DEI programs. Experts from the DEI sector explained actionable steps community members could take to maintain progress.
“The implications of these orders extend far beyond the federal level,” said Hodge Growden, the CEO and President of the Alaska Black Caucus. Growden expressed concerns that the executive order could influence local policies. “They set a dangerous precedent that could influence state and local policies.”
Some political leaders, including Senator Dan Sullivan, support the DEI programs. In a statement, Sullivan criticized woke theories, arguing they divert attention from core military priorities like lethality and warfighting. His office emphasized the military’s history as a desegregation leader since 1948.
Alaska’s Governor Mike Dunleavy also defended the order, stating, “You, or I, or anybody else should not be getting a job based upon the color of our skin or religion or political belief. That to me is un-American.”
Conversely, Growden highlighted the importance of DEI programs for marginalized groups. “As a black woman, it provides us an opportunity to have a seat at the table. And once we’re at the table, we can show what we are fully capable of doing,” she said.
As Anchorage faces this shift, community leaders emphasize the necessity of unity in fostering inclusion. Controversy over the Anchorage DEI program is a critical turning point in addressing systemic inequality within Alaska.
This news article was originally published by Alaska´s News Source.
