Diversity, Equity,
& Inclusion
Local First Arizona centers diversity, inclusion and equity in our work to develop an Arizona economy grounded in local ownership that meets the basic needs of all people, builds local wealth and social capital, functions in harmony with our ecosystem, and encourages healthy communities.
It is our belief that such an economy cannot be fully realized if people are excluded from full and fair participation as a result of racism, poverty, discrimination, cultural ignorance, bias or other conditions of exclusion. From staff, board members, and community partners to programs and strategic initiatives, Local First Arizona works with diverse populations to build prosperity.
We look to these guiding definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion as inspiration and instruction in our work to make Arizona nationally recognized for its quality of life, diverse entrepreneurial energy, beautiful environment, and unique local culture:
Diversity
The wide range of national, ethnic, racial, and other backgrounds of U.S. residents and immigrants as social groupings, co-existing in American culture. The term is often used to include aspects of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and much more.
Source: The Institute for Democratic Renewal and Project Change’s Anti-Racism Initiative: A Community Builder's Tool Kit.
Equity
Equity is just and fair inclusion into a society in which all, including all racial and ethnic groups, can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Equity gives all people a just and fair shot in life despite historic patterns of racial and economic exclusion.
Source: Center for American Progress and PolicyLink’s All in Nation: An America that works for all.
Inclusion
Inclusion authentically brings traditionally excluded individuals and/or groups into processes, activities, and decision/policy-making.
Source: Crossroads Charlotte Individual Initiative Scorecard for Organizations (see Inclusion).
Why Diversity is Critical to Prosperity
There is a great amount of evidence and scientific research that indicates diversity, equity, and inclusion are necessary for widespread prosperity for communities and local economies.
“The evidence is mounting that geographical openness and cultural diversity and tolerance are not by-products but key drivers of economic progress. Proximity, openness and diversity operate alongside technological innovation and human capital as the key engines of economic prosperity.”
— RICHARD FLORIDA, "HOW DIVERSITY LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH," THE ATLANTIC'S CITYLAB
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“Foreign-born workers currently make up 22.0 percent of all entrepreneurs in the state, despite accounting for 13.7 percent of Arizona’s population. Their firms generated $1.3B in business income in 2014. Arizona firms with at least one immigrant owner also provided jobs to roughly 114,000 Americans in 2007.”
— "THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF NEW AMERICANS IN ARIZONA," NEW AMERICAN ECONOMY
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“These findings [of this study] are consistent with a dominant positive effect of diversity on productivity: a more multicultural urban environment makes US-born citizens more productive.”
— "THE ECONOMIC VALUE OF CULTURAL DIVERSITY: EVIDENCE FROM US CITIES," JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY
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“Decades of research by organizational scientists, psychologists, sociologists, economists and demographers show that socially diverse groups (that is, those with a diversity of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation) are more innovative than homogeneous groups.”
— KATHERINE W. PHILLIPS, "HOW DIVERSITY MAKES US SMARTER," SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
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“Also central to community wealth building is the driver of inclusion, the opening up of economic opportunity and voice to previously excluded social groups.”
— "CITIES BUILDING COMMUNITY WEALTH," DEMOCRACY COLLABORATIVE
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