In a democracy under siege, the integrity of our institutions depends not only on who governs, but on how they govern. I’ve served across local, state, and the federal government leading racial equity and economic justice efforts in the White House under President Biden and now advancing equity and protecting civil rights in one of the nation’s most historic African American cities. I’ve come to hold one truth above all: public servants committed to equity are essential to ensuring government works as it should, for everyone.
Public servants committed to equity are thinkers, doers, and transformational leaders unafraid to challenge the status quo – because if we don’t, who will? Our work ensures no one is left out or left behind. From defending equal employment to expanding access to government contracts for small businesses, championing diversity in clinical trials, exposing school funding inequities, and investing in clean energy in communities harmed by environmental racism, we are the people this country needs more than ever. Diverse leaders inside government have always been interlinked with America’s success. And today, we stand not merely as symbols of hard-won progress, but as frontline defenders of it.
Across the country, some of the very institutions entrusted with protecting democracy are now undermining the civil and human rights they were created to uphold. We are witnessing a disturbing pattern of unchecked power and overreach: mass layoffs in civil service, voting restrictions, weakened anti-discrimination laws, book bans, and inhumane immigration policies. Executive actions have targeted and defunded diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the public and private sectors. Entire civil rights divisions have been gutted, and vital aid programs eliminated – unraveling decades of progress toward a more equitable and safer world.
Let’s be clear: rolling back opportunity and limiting rights helps no one. It makes us less safe, less competitive, and less credible on the world stage. As a former U.S. State Department official, I saw firsthand how the erosion of rights makes countries more vulnerable to instability and outside interference. That’s why I’m inspired that so many public servants have chosen to stay in the fight at every level of government. These leaders are using every tool possible to uphold our democratic institutions from further disrepair; intent on protecting the rule of law and ensuring greater dignity and equal protection for all.
When we implemented President Biden’s Executive Orders on racial equity and support for underserved communities, we weren’t just improving policy we were making sure our government followed its obligation to serve all people equally. Due to our country’s history of racial exclusion, our potential as a country has been held back. In fact, it’s estimated that the U.S. economy has lost $16 trillion in GDP due to structural racism against African Americans (Citigroup 2020). When we promote exclusion, everyone loses.
As Special Assistant to the President for Racial and Economic Justice, I worked across Cabinet agencies to identify structural barriers and embed equity into federal operations and decision making. With dedicated agency equity teams, we challenged outdated systems, reimagining procurement, disaster response, research funding, technical assistance, grantmaking, and more. We pushed for disaggregated data and community engagement to confront long-ignored issues impacting underserved communities, including African Americans: underfunding of HBCUs, limited capital access for Black businesses, confronting the Black maternal health crisis, and a federal workforce unreflective of the true diversity and talent of our nation.
This front-line commitment led me to Baltimore, where I now serve as the city’s Chief Equity Officer and Director of Civil Rights, working to eliminate inequity, inequality, and discrimination. Because while policies to advance and protect equity at the federal level may be in jeopardy, state and local government remain key engines behind real and lasting change. At the local level, now more than ever we are committing to advancing equity in how public dollars are spent, investing in civil and human rights protections, and speaking out at every opportunity to ensure no one is left out or left behind.
While our institutions face extreme internal and external pressure, many public servants and equity leaders around the country are questioning their role in this moment of uncertainty. But remember that you are not alone and you are not powerless; in fact, you are defending democracy from within. Every time you raise your hand and your voice against inequality, you are holding the line for us all. All around us are courageous, tested, and fearless leaders willing and ready to continue this work who are standing firm in the fight for equity and challenging systems of exclusion at every corner. Because for our democracy to survive, it must work for everyone, not just the privileged few.
