There's much to be thankful for after five years of impact Albuquerque's Office of Equity & Inclusion has had on the government and community, the office's director said in a news release.
In the news release issued Wednesday, the city announced the office established by Mayor Tim Keller now oversees the offices of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Native American Affairs and Black Community Engagement. All the officers are "contributing to fostering a more inclusive environment within Albuquerque," the news release said.
It has been a team effort, Albuquerque Director of Equity and Inclusion Michelle Melendez said in the news release.
"I am thankful for the amazing team I have beside me leading the charge in making our city government more inclusive and equitable," Melendez said. "We have accomplished a lot since our inception, and the work is just beginning as we continue working towards closing the racial wealth gap."
Albuquerque's Equity & Inclusion office's ten-member team actively engages with various diverse communities in the city, taking on leadership roles in critical challenges, including responding humanitarian needs of asylum seekers, according to the news release. The team has addressed disparities of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on marginalized communities and confronted racial reckoning sparked by George Floyd's murder.
The office has also played a pivotal role in discussions regarding controversial monuments and the sacred burial grounds of the Albuquerque Indian School. Through the Culture Change Initiative, the office has empowered city employees by enhancing their equity IQ through workshops, training, toolkits and data-driven program and policy decisions according to a press release by the City of Albuquerque.
The Equity & Inclusion office also Albuquerque has gained national attention and recognition, winning first place as the 'Most Culturally Diverse City.'
The office continues its work by tackling the racial wealth gap through homeownership opportunities for Black and Indigenous communities, supported by a $550,000 grant, and leveraging federal commitments to equity through the City's Justice40 initiative, according to the news release.
"Over the last five years, our Office of Equity and Inclusion has played a vital role in driving positive change that promotes investments in Albuquerque’s underserved communities," Keller said in the news release. "OEI has become a manifestation of our value that city government should work for everyone."