People of Color Remain Largely Under-Represented in Public Service Leadership Sector
National
Urban Fellows Is Not Just Talking About Why Under-Representation
Remains, Instead, Takes Action To Address Public Service Leadership
National Urban Fellows (May 22, 2012)
Diversity
Counts reveals the continuing dilemma of the under-representation of
people of color in public service leadership, while offering that
leadership diversity remains both an opportunity and a challenge for
public service institutions. The opportunity is for top decision-makers
in public service to adopt system-wide inclusionary practices and the
challenge is to expand opportunities for new diverse perspectives in
leadership.
"We
believe that diverse and inclusive leadership can more effectively
address the complex social issues that confront our nation," says Paula
Gavin, National Urban Fellows President. "When the disparities in public
service leadership diversity are addressed, the public service sector
will have greater capacity and access to people and communities of
color.
She
concluded by saying, "It is our hope that Diversity Counts, will ignite
a national dialogue, and serve as a catalyst for change among groups
including members of Congress, state and local elected officials and
board of directors for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
Through the actions of the PSLDI, we will find the human capital that
will bring new leadership perspectives, skills and ideas to bear toward
confronting social policy dilemmas."
Congressman
Michael Honda of California agrees saying, "I want to thank the
National Urban Fellows for publishing the Diversity Counts report, which
provides a critical, long over-due assessment of diversity and
representation in the public sector. In order to face the challenges
ahead, we as a nation must address the shortage of qualified leaders of
color in the nonprofit, philanthropic and government sectors. As the
representative of California's 15th District, one of the most diverse
districts in the nation, I know the importance of empowering leaders of
diverse backgrounds to solve the most pressing social, political,
economic, health and environmental problems."
The
publication shows that for congressional representation, diversity
among the combined 535 House and Senate members only about 16 percent
are people of color. Specifically, 44 (8 percent) are African American,
27 (5 percent) are Latino/Latina, 10 (2 percent) are Asian Pacific
American, and 1 (less than 1 percent) is Native American. Also according
to the data, staffs of U.S. Representatives are under-represented in
key positions: only 13 percent of chiefs of staff are people of color;
approximately 13 percent of House legislative directors are people of
color; and only about 22 percent of senior legislative aides and
legislatives aides are people of color.
The
report illustrates that state and local governments don't fair much
better. In state government among the 50 governors of the United States,
92 percent are of White, non-Hispanic heritage, and that only 13 of the
50 states and the District of Columbia have a chief diversity officer
on record. Among the five most diverse states, people of color are
under-represented in state legislatures, including the state house of
representatives/assembly and the state senate.
In
county and local governments sixty-one percent of our nation's 18 most
diverse counties have an executive who is identified as a person of
color. In the majority of the nation's most diverse cities, there is an
under-representation of people of color on city councils, in comparison
with their percentage of the general population. In two cities, San
Francisco, California, and San Antonio, Texas, the percentage of people
of color on the city council, 71 percent and 90 percent, respectively,
exceeds the percentage of people of color in the general population, 58
percent and 73 percent, respectively.
A
review of diversity in the nonprofit sector also indicates that leaders
of color lag behind in executive positions. For nonprofit boards and
executive leadership positions, data indicate that the vast majority (88
percent) of nonprofit executives are of White, non-Hispanic heritage,
and that only 12 percent are people of color. In 2010, 86 percent of the
members of nonprofit boards of directors were White, non-Hispanic, and
only 14 percent were people of color.
The
goal of the Public Service Leadership Diversity Initiative, founded by
National Urban Fellows in 2010, is not only to achieve proportional
representation in the public service sector by building a pipeline of
talented, highly skilled candidates of color, but to dismantle the
barriers to inclusion and to support the public's recognition that
diversity in leadership leads to organizational excellence and results.
With a dual emphasis on individuals and systems, and through research,
communications, stakeholder mobilization, and action, the Public Service
Leadership Diversity Initiative will seek out partners to develop a
new, inclusive paradigm of public service leadership.
About the National Urban Fellows
National
Urban Fellows was founded in 1969 to counter the under-representation
of people of color and women in leadership, National Urban Fellows is
one of the oldest leadership development organizations in the United
States. The Organization's range of mid-career leadership development
programs include a 14- month MPA fellowship, a career acceleration
program for leaders on the rise in public service sectors and a
life-long alumni network. In 2010, National Urban Fellows issued a call
to action resulting in the Public Service Leadership Diversity
Initiative, a collaborative national network that will create the
awareness of the need for leadership diversity, while developing a
pipeline of people of color and women who are prepared for public
service leadership. National Urban Fellows develops the leadership for a
changing America. For more information visit www.nuf.org and www.publicserviceleaders.org
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