To make a desirable community even better, we must embrace diversity

As president of the League of Women Voters of Arlington Heights-Mount Prospect-Buffalo Grove Areas, I was asked to join with other Arlington Heights community members and leaders to see what we could do to elevate the issue of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Arlington Heights.

This work is a direct result of racist graffiti spray-painted just blocks from our police station. We jointly wrote a memo to village leaders, officials, and the Daily Herald, outlining gaps we perceived in leadership. We followed the first memo with a second, seeking specific actions to adequately address DEI in our community. To accompany the second memo on Friday, Jan. 15, we held a press conference outside of Village Hall.

Our goal is to create a productive dialogue with village leaders and community members to make the place we live and work welcoming for all. For the most part, we have received positive feedback, but we have also received some misinformed and racist responses, referencing BLM as a "Marxist organization that promotes Socialism" and my "liberal agenda to diversify Arlington Heights." Perhaps the most disturbing part of these responses is the distinction they draw between "hardworking values" and inclusion, between "bullying among children and adults for not conforming to the popular belief" and disparaging the beliefs of others in basic human rights.

In helping to lead this DEI work in Arlington Heights, we seek to help educate and dispel the kind of misinformation and misperception evidenced in these emails. Sadly, these are views that continue to proliferate, undermining inclusion and supporting white supremacy. They are views that make Black and Brown people feel unwelcome in our community. That is not acceptable.

I continue to be troubled by the institutional racism within all of our cultural institutions, League included. I get it. Facing racism and bias is not easy. But my Daddy, a career Air Force officer and West Point graduate, raised me to speak up for the oppressed. My Mama, a devout Christian, raised me to treat others as Christ would, and Christ created space for all.

When asked to be a spokesperson for this group of community leaders, I was frankly taken aback. I am not Black. I am privileged personified. And that's precisely why I was asked. I do not have a job to lose, or children in school who could be ridiculed. In fact, I have nothing to lose from being vocal on a matter I view at the heart of many of the issues the League works to improve.

We're doing this important work because we love our community. If we detested it here, we would leave. My family has the resources to live anywhere, but we choose Arlington Heights. I loved raising my family here, spending summers at our parks, and exploring the library with my son. I'm proud of the education my children received in our public schools. I am happy to live in a safe community.

But I know it can all be made better by creating a community where everyone feels welcome, regardless of their skin color, gender identity or sexuality.

When I hear from a Black friend - who bravely spoke before the community at our news conference - that she does not feel safe in our community, I want to cry. When I hear from a young Black woman I've known since she was a baby that she feels incomplete because she never had a teacher who looked like her, I know I've been silent for too long.

Though I only received a few negative emails, I know there probably are hundreds, maybe even thousands, more people right here in our community who feel the same way. But I also know many more people see that racism exists here and want to help, but don't know how.

Here's how:

Stop being silent.

Insist that our publicly funded local organizations hire diverse staff, and promote diversity in leadership. This includes, but is not limited to, police, fire, village/city staff, schools, libraries, parks and townships.

Look for elected officials who will be committed to DEI. Hold leadership accountable for DEI. Support businesses that are Black, Brown and female-owned.

And if you can't find elected officials to support DEI? Run for office. Our democracy depends on contested elections, and we can have civil, constructive dialogue in contested elections if we as voters insist on it.

Will it be easy? Absolutely not.

Will it be worth it? Absolutely.

• Heidi Graham is president of the League of Women Voters for the Arlington Heights, Mount Prospect and Buffalo Grove Areas, www.lwvah.org.