Diversity, equity, and inclusion are still key to securing a future where all can enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit

of happiness

by Joel Connelly

Shortly after my mother’s death, sorting through her papers, I came upon a curious photo taken on Government Street in Victoria. The picture offered a lesson in perspective. The shot (alas, lost) showed a middle aged white woman with cameras strapped around her neck, along with a multiracial cast of teenagers.

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My mom was doing a Seattle Times magazine piece on a diversity project. Western Washington State College, as it was then, had recruited a group of promising but underachieving kids from poor families. They were given a shot at college.

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She garnered a close up appreciation of affirmative action. Not as a quota system, but providing opportunity that would otherwise be lost.

Given a rung, the kids could climb the ladder to the American dream. With diversity, equity and inclusion now treated as dirty words, here’s a rundown of the benefits:

https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2025/09/diversity-equity-and-inclusion-are-still-key-to-securing-a-future-where-all-can-enjoy-life-liberty-and-the-pursuit-of-happiness.html

Sorry to cut this so short. The entire article is worth a read.