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Diversity and inclusion are facing unprecedented political attacks. The Trump Era represents a backlash against both our first African-American president and the prospect of a female president. Indeed, many progressives view fear of the “other” — people of color, women, immigrants, Muslim and LGBTQI individuals — as the primary unifying principle of Trump’s supporters. Economic concerns and vague notions of limited government alone cannot account for our election results. Yet the reality is that there will be no racial or ethnic majority in the U.S. by 2050.
Second, diversity enables many non-profits to deliver on their missions. Although much of the current research on the benefits of diversity is focused on the private sector, the same outcomes would also hold true for non-profits. Studies indicate that diversity can boost the quality of decision-making and that a diverse workplace encourages people to be “more creative, more diligent, and harder-working.”
No matter what our vantage point is, the stakes have never been higher. Non-profits are our conscience. More than ever, in the Trump Era, non-profits must “walk the walk” of diversity. We must have the courage to challenge assumptions and biases that are embedded within society as well as our charities so that we can unite further in our common vision for the future.