Diversity

Join Oakland County for a Welcoming Week Celebration

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As a member of Welcoming America, Oakland County is participating in a movement of inclusive communities around the United States that believe when everyone feels safe and that they belong, then the community is more prosperous.

In April 2019, Commissioner William Miller delivered the very first Welcoming Resolution to the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. This was a pivotal moment because it kicked off what was to become Welcoming Oakland, a consortium of agencies and organizations that operate in the immigrant and refugee space within the county. In early 2020, County Executive David Coulter directed the county to become a member of Welcoming America.

Welcoming Oakland’s roadmap for the county includes participation in Resilience and Emergency Management for Inclusive Communities seminars; working to fill food security needs in immigrant communities; translation assistance; and connecting immigrants in need with much-needed services in the county.

The roadmap to a more inclusive, welcoming, and safe Oakland County with access and open doors for everyone is never far from our hearts.

Welcoming Week Celebrations

Welcoming Week is a time to bring together organizations, communities and neighbors of all backgrounds to build strong connections and affirm the importance of welcoming and inclusive places. Honor the vast array of cultures that make up the fabric of our communities by attending a local Welcoming Week celebration below:

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Oakland County’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Observes the 33rd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush on July 26, 1990, and was expanded in 2009 with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). The ADA prohibits any discrimination against people with disabilities in the workplace, in schools, on public transportation, and in all public and private places that are open to the public.

Meet Harry Weaver III, he is Oakland County’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer. As a person who uses a wheelchair, he brings a unique perspective to the job that benefits both employees and visitors to the county campus.

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Welcoming Week in Oakland County

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

While Welcoming Week was officially celebrated for 10 days this month, Sept. 9-18, we celebrate it all year long in Oakland County. Welcoming Oakland is an official county member of the Welcoming America network that brings together communities to reaffirm the importance of promoting inclusivity and celebrating the vast array of cultures that make our neighborhoods and towns so vibrant and exciting.

The theme of this year’s Welcoming Week celebration was #WhereWeBelong. All individuals throughout the county should understand that there is a place for them here.

In the last year or so, that’s been especially true for people fleeing the wars in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Through the Uniting for Ukraine initiative, more than 630 Oakland County residents have stepped up to sponsor and financially support families who have left Ukraine because of the war.

But Welcoming Week is about more than just helping resettle refugees. There are services, people, and organizations across Oakland County that are helping newcomers when they arrive in the state.

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Oakland County Celebrates Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Every Day

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment
Oakland County Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Robin Carter-Cooper

While it’s very important to take note of the remarkable achievements of our civil rights leaders, as well as our friends, neighbors and co-workers of color during Black History Month, Oakland County champions diversity and inclusion each and every day—not just throughout February.

Oakland County continues to focus on fostering a thriving, diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all employees are welcome. When that happens at work, it extends to the services provided to residents and businesses throughout the county.

Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Robin Carter-Cooper works every day to help ensure that Oakland County’s increasingly diverse workforce is valued, respected, included, and heard.

Amplifying black voices, experiences, and contributions is not just for the month of February. Oakland County is committed to elevating all voices to ensure we are creating equitable systems to support minoritized voices throughout the organization and the communities we serve.

-Oakland County Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Robin Carter-Cooper
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