Over the past several years, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs have spread like a virus. Although the words diversity, equity and inclusion sound virtuous in common parlance, many people have experienced horrific harassment and bullying during DEI training sessions. In a recent example of the dark side of DEI, Richard Bilkszto, a longtime school principal and a founder of the Toronto chapter of the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism (FAIR), took his life on July 13th following a continuous downward spiral of events that occurred after he disagreed with a DEI trainer.
A dirty little secret of DEI programs is that they originate from non-rigorous fields of study that are designed to create activists that pursue social upheaval. Oftentimes DEI is introduced by activist nonprofit organizations to high-ranking government officials and upper-level business managers, who then push it down the ranks. This pattern was clearly evident in Ottawa County as former County Administrator Al Vanderberg, largely credited with bringing DEI to Ottawa County, was heavily influenced by outsiders.
In order to understand how DEI was implemented in Ottawa County and spread to municipalities and citizens, it is helpful to be familiar with some key organizations involved with DEI initiatives at the local and national levels.
Center for Racial Justice Innovation
Center for Social Inclusion (CSI)
Race Forward
The Government Alliance on Race and Equity, GARE, is a leading organization at the national level and had the most influence in Ottawa County. GARE is essentially a conglomeration of the national organizations listed above. According to the website, GARE creates a “national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all”. GARE was founded by Glenn Harris when he was the Executive Director of the Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) – a left-of-center activist organization.
“The Center for Racial Justice Innovation united with Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) in 2017 to become the new Race Forward.”
“Founded in 1981, Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. Founded in 2002, CSI catalyzes community, government, and other institutions to dismantle structural racial inequity and create equitable outcomes for all.”
“The Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley brings together researchers, organizers, stakeholders, communicators, and policymakers to identify and eliminate the barriers to an inclusive, just, and to affirmatively build a more sustainable society and to create transformative change toward a more equitable nation.”
“The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE) is a national network of government working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all. The Alliance is a joint project of the new Race Forward and the Othering and Belonging Institute.”
The GARE website explains six critical strategies they use to teach people about race and equity.
The GARE website also explains their approach to achieving racial equity.
Ottawa County is a Midwest Core Member of GARE.”
Glenn Harris, founder of GARE, also served as the Racial and Social Justice Initiative Manager for the City of Seattle Office for Civil Rights, as did Julie Nelson. Mr. Harris and CSI created GARE through a collaboration with the Haas Institute for Fair and Inclusive Society out of U.C. Berkeley, now known as the Other and Belonging Institute. In 2017 when CSI merged with Race Forward, Glenn Harris became President of the new Race Forward.
Race Forward uses personal stories to convince people that their communities have problems with racism. This technique is commonly used in DEI business training seminars where participants are asked if they have ever experienced racism. Attendees are expected to accept personal narrative stories of others as fact and are not allowed to question or challenge perceptions. These personal narrative stories are commonly referred to as “lived experience,” and people are asked to “speak your truth,” rather than the truth. According to the website,
“Race Forward offers workshops and coaching to help teams and organization harness narrative strategy. Our training also provides guidance on how to partner with others to make your narratives clearly understood and deeply held by your target audiences. We use Narrative Strategy to tell our story of how a racially just society benefits all of us. Through the practice of sharing connected and ongoing stories across multiple mediums and platforms, we are able to build a powerful narrative that reinforces the need for a just, multiracial democracy while countering harmful narratives.”
In other words, the new Race Forward is a racial/social justice organization that crafts and applies tools and strategies (GARE framework) to transform our nation’s policies and practices, with the goal of achieving racial equity which they define as “the process of eliminating racial disparities and improving outcomes for everyone”. But achieving racial equity is only one area of focus as Race Forward also participates in progressive activism by advocating for divestment from police, reparations to people of color, citizenship for undocumented immigrants living in the U.S., abortion rights (also known as reproductive justice), and comprehensive sex Ed through the Applied Research Center, which was rebranded to Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation. In 2021, Race Forward kicked off a campaign to organize against the many concerned parents and students that were speaking at school board meetings regarding the teaching of Critical Race Theory, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Race Forward has used its social media platforms that include Twitter and Facebook and its own publication, Colorlines, to fight to protect abortion rights and limit any restrictions.
Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance (LEDA) is a local organization that influences governments, nonprofits, and business to incorporate DEI initiatives. According to their website,
“The Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance works to dismantle barriers to ensure people of all ethnic backgrounds have equal access and opportunity to participate fully in the life of the community. Influenced by national dialogue and research on equity, LEDA forms a bridge between formal and informal leaders and individuals throughout our community and region. This model establishes credibility, expertise, and accountability; increases visibility and awareness; and fosters defined, sustainable initiatives and outcomes.”
The Summit on Race and Inclusion is an annual full day conference hosted by LEDA since 2001.
All of these organizations were influential on DEI initiatives being implemented in Ottawa County. The next article will provide the details of how it was done.
To learn more about the downside of DEI programs, watch the interview with former DEI trainer Erec Smith.