Embrace diversity; it enriches our community
Diversity means strengthening and enriching our communities — and our own personal lives — by bringing people of different backgrounds together in shared purpose. Diversity means living each day of our lives with a commitment to looking outside of the limited sphere of our individual experiences to the insights, struggles and wisdom of others. To embrace diversity is to value the richness and vitality of our varied world.
While achieving and valuing diversity is a social goal, it can only be achieved through persistent individual endeavors. Advocating for diversity in areas of politics and public policy is empty without personal efforts to form connections with those of different ethnicities, customs and modes of understanding.
It’s easy to say that we value diversity and embrace it in our lives, but how many of us have had people over to our homes for dinner during the last year whose backgrounds differ fundamentally from our own? How many of us have contributed our time, talents and resources to organizations that represent diverse communities other than our own — communities with their own individual struggles for equality, justice and recognition?
Albert Lea is dynamic, open and welcoming to people from all walks of life as never before in our history. According to U.S. Census data, the Latino population in Freeborn County grew slightly from 2000 to 2006.
Taken together, Asians, African-Americans, Native Americans, Latinos and Pacific Islanders comprise approximately 8 percent of our total population or almost 2,000 people. Although the statistical information is interesting, diversity is not just about percentages or numbers. It is about cultivating attitudes of respect, mutual understanding and peace between people who differ greatly from one another. Diversity is a way of being that permeates an entire group — and entire community of people.
Cultivation of attitudes of respect and mutual understanding begins with education. For the first time, the Albert Lea Human Rights Commission is sponsoring a contest for middle school students about diversity within our community. The contest was presented to the school board in early December and will take place through the first quarter of the year.
The commission is also working on additional opportunities where we can work with other groups to welcome, educate and enjoy all people from all cultures right here within our community.
If you have ideas, or simply want to share in the process feel free to get in touch with me or Mike Zelenak (City staff liaison for the Human Rights Commission).
Randy Erdman is the mayor of Albert Lea. His column appears monthly.
